New Technology Opening Markets for the Chicken Industry in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Provincial and Federal Governments announced an $800,000 investment that will help Country Ribbon Inc. deliver more fresh, local chicken to major retailers in Newfoundland and Labrador through the purchase of air-chill technology and secondary processing equipment.

The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture; and Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, made the announcement at Country Ribbon Inc.’s farm complex near Cochrane Pond. They were joined by Ian MacKinnon, president of Country Ribbon Inc.

There is a growing demand for locally raised chicken that is air-chilled as opposed to water chilled. Unlike traditional cooling methods, air-chill technology cools the product without retaining excess moisture. By changing its cooling technology, Country Ribbon will increase the amount of local chicken sold in grocery stores across Newfoundland and Labrador and substantially improve food self-sufficiency in the province.

This project is funded under the Partnership’s Agriculture Processing and Value-Added Program to help realize new market opportunities, and will enhance poultry processing capacity, support food safety practices, and produce quality poultry products. The investment is expected to help Country Ribbon access new domestic markets and increase food self-sufficiency in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a $3-billion, five-year (2018-2023) investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to innovate, strengthen and grow Canada’s agriculture and agri-foods sector. This includes a $2-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories. The program will be replaced by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a new $3.5-billion, five-year agreement, between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, in effect from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2028.

In the first four years, the Partnership has committed approximately $26 million to fund 558 agriculture projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, including 46 new, first-year farmers. Projects under the Partnership focus on new entrants, secondary processing, food self-sufficiency, climate change, and risk mitigation for the agriculture industry. They also support innovation and environmental sustainability. More information on the Partnership is available in the backgrounder below.