Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Invest in New Agri-Food Innovation Centre

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwired - Feb 20, 2015) - Western Economic Diversification Canada

The food processing industry in Saskatchewan will benefit from a new $4.35 million federal investment, announced today by the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Consular, on behalf of the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

This investment, through the Western Diversification Program (WDP), will assist the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) in establishing an agri-food innovation centre. The centre will house new food development and analysis laboratories, an innovation suite for piloting and prototyping new technologies, and accredited multi-use development suites for use by small- and medium-sized enterprises to support the commercialization of new products for export markets. This initiative will also benefit from additional investments from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial initiative.

Quick Facts

• The Food Centre is the primary provider of food product development, technology transfer, commercialization, and food safety training for Saskatchewan's food industry.

• Since inception, the Food Centre has developed over 600 products, with an estimated 50% already introduced into the market.

• Saskatchewan exports more than $1 billion in each of four key product sectors: cereal grains, oilseeds, pulses, and edible oils.

Quotes

"Our Government is focused on what matters most to Canadians - creating jobs and growth. We are pleased to invest in a modern, one-stop facility to help Saskatchewan's food industry increase its productivity and competitiveness in domestic and international markets. In turn, these excellent Saskatchewan-made products will help create jobs and economic prosperity in their communities."

• Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular)

"Saskatchewan's agriculture sector will achieve long term benefits directly from this investment by increasing our ability to expand global market opportunities in value added processing. The Food Centre's new agri-food innovation centre will support innovation and technology through enhanced expertise, training and commercialization resources to assist our industry in accessing markets with new products and services."

• Dan Prefontaine, President (Food Centre)

Additional Links

• Previous WD investments in the Food Centre:

  • http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/77_11199.asp

  • http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/77_12714.asp

• Food Centre: http://www.foodcentre.sk.ca/

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: http://www.agr.gc.ca/

• Growing Forward 2: http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/GrowingForward2

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