News Sustainability
Governments support increased energy efficiency for Ontario food processors

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $10 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to help food processing businesses increase energy efficiency and lower their costs.

The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative is a new, cost-share program to help food processors lower their costs to be more competitive and sustainable. The focus is on supporting projects that prioritize reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by investing in new technology and equipment, as well as building or facility modifications, to help achieve this goal.

“Our government is making substantial investments to help producers and processors reduce their energy consumption, which allows for economic and environmental advantages,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, in a statement. “These projects will contribute to making the food processing sector of Ontario a more innovative and sustainable sector.”

“Ontario’s food processing sector is an essential component of Ontario’s food supply chain, and the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative will reduce costs and improve efficiencies, enabling them to grow and succeed,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs.

The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative was developed following discussions with Ontario’s food manufacturing industry and builds on other actions the government has taken to support the sector, such as the $10 million investment through the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund, $22 million through the Agri-tech Innovation Program and the launch of the $25 million Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund.

Under the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative, applicants can receive up to 20 per cent cost share for eligible costs, to a maximum of $300,000, per business. Eligible businesses can apply for support through this initiative starting on April 27, 2023.

The Sustainable CAP will inject up to an estimated $1.77 billion in Ontario’s agri-food industry over the next five years, strengthening Ontario’s agri-food competitiveness and innovation, and the resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. This includes up to $569M for Sustainable CAP cost-shared strategic initiatives, and an estimated $1.13 billion under business risk management programs for Ontario producers.