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GOC announces new phase of Local Food Infrastructure Fund

On March 23, Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food, along with Daniel Vandal, Minister of northern affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, launched a new phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF), with an investment of up to $20 million. This funding, available over the next two years, will support community-based and not-for-profit organizations in their efforts to create long-term solutions to address food security challenges.

This new phase of the LFIF has been tailored to meet the needs of Indigenous, Northern and remote communities by providing funding to help them build a food system that will meet both current and future community needs. For example, a project could help expand a community harvest program to include traditional methods for transforming food and distribution.

“Northern and Arctic communities face unique challenges such as isolation and socioeconomic factors that make them particularly vulnerable to food insecurity,” Vandal said. “These factors, along with routinely higher food prices than in the rest of the country, have reinforced the need for long-term, community and traditions-based solutions.”

Program details and requirements are available now, and applications for this intake phase can be submitted from June 1 until July 15. By releasing program details ahead of the intake process, the Government of Canada hopes to provide potential applicants with additional time to review the program guide, create partnerships with neighbouring communities, ask questions and get feedback from program officials.

Eligible projects must be infrastructure-specific, community-driven and dedicated to improving access to healthy, nutritious, and local foods for Canadians at risk of food insecurity. Grant funding for projects can range from $100,000 to $500,000 to support larger initiatives that will have a lasting impact in communities.

For more information on the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, please contact the program by: E-mail: aafc.foodprograms-programmesalimentaires.aac@agr.gc.ca or call: 1-877-246-4682. Program information is also available through agriculture.canada.ca/local-food.

In an effort to ensure that diverse audiences are able to receive up-to-date information on this program, the contents of this news release are available in the following languages: Denesuline, Innu-Aimun, Inuktitut, Mi’kmaq, Michif Cree, Michif French, Oji-Cree, Plains Cree, and Western Ojibway. Program information is available in English and French in accordance with Canada’s Official Languages Policy.