Minister Bibeau launches a new phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund

Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, while visiting Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre with the Honourable Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier and President of the Treasury Board, announced $10 million for a new phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF).

LFIF is a 5-year, $70-million initiative, ending on March 31, 2024. It was created as part of the Government of Canada's Food Policy, a roadmap for healthier and more sustainable food systems in Canada. LFIF supports community-based, not-for-profit organizations to improve food security by strengthening local food systems and improving access to nutritious food.

This new phase of LFIF will provide rapid-response funding in the range of $15,000 to $120,000 per project to help improve food security in communities through investments in equipment and infrastructure needs. Project impacts must be targeted and immediate, and must be directly related to addressing food security and increasing the accessibility of healthy, nutritious and ideally local foods within communities. For example, a project could help purchase and install a walk-in refrigerator or storage units for donated food.

Program details and requirements are available now. Eligible applicants from across Canada will be able to submit applications for this intake from May 4 until May 31, 2023. Organizations who have received LFIF funding in the past will be eligible to apply to this new funding opportunity.

During their visit to Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, Minister Bibeau and Minister Fortier toured the facility and learned about the organization's support of community food security in Ottawa. Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre received a total of $71,502 through past phases of LFIF to purchase a refrigerated vehicle and vertical growing racks and towers. These community projects have allowed the organization to increase food production, while also improving distribution to community members.