Manitoba government invests in food processing infrastructure
The governments of Canada and Manitoba are jointly investing in significant capital infrastructure and projects under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
These initiatives aim to expand food processing capacity in Manitoba, enabling producers to sell more locally and fostering agricultural employment opportunities, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced.
“We’re supporting Manitoba companies to process more of our homegrown agricultural products right here, so we can grow our agriculture sector and our economy,” said Kostyshyn. “Helping food processors scale up production will mean more good Manitoba jobs, an increased value and volume of Manitoba-grown commodities, and a more competitive economy that benefits all Manitobans.”
Through Sustainable CAP, up to $15.4 million is being allocated over four years to 70 projects via the Capital Infrastructure and Investments program. This funding supports growth and expansion by modernising operations to improve efficiency, productivity, and environmental sustainability.
One recipient, Burnbrae Farms Limited, specialises in egg production and processing. The funding will modernise their Winnipeg facility, enhancing capacity and efficiency.
“Burnbrae is proud to have been providing quality eggs and egg products to food service operators, processors and Canadian families for over 80 years”, said Margaret Hudson, president and CEO of Burnbrae Farms. “We are grateful to the federal and provincial governments for recognizing the hard work of our staff and management that made this success possible. The funding from this program will allow us to expand the capacity of our Winnipeg operation and continue to provide a variety of eggs from responsibly raised hens for all Canadians to enjoy.”
Other beneficiaries include Kimberly Packing Corporation under Kroeker Farms Limited, which will use the funding to process potatoes locally, eliminating the need for out-of-province packaging.
Roquette Canada Limited will invest in equipment upgrades at its Portage la Prairie pea protein plant, the world’s largest of its kind. Meanwhile, Spenst Bros Premium Meats plans to increase production of their frozen pizza line to expand their market across Canada.
Chris Chinery, manager of Roquette’s Portage Pea Protein Plant, highlighted the collaboration: “We settled on Manitoba and more precisely, Portage la Prairie, because of the potential we saw for partnering with government to foster innovation and help create a hub for sustainable, plant-based ingredients that will help feed North America and the world.”
The Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5 billion initiative aimed at strengthening Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sectors, with funding shared between federal, provincial, and territorial governments.
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