New Provincial Agriculture Strategy Released

The Provincial Government today released a new agriculture and agrifoods strategy, Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future, which provides direction to strengthen the agriculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“There is tremendous promise and opportunity in the province’s agriculture and agrifoods industry, and the new agriculture strategy will provide direction to guide the industry over the next five years,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. “Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future identifies challenges and opportunities, and provides an action plan for the continued development of an innovative, profitable, and sustainable agriculture and agrifoods industry.”

Our Farms, Our Foods, Our Future responds to the information provided by consumers, farmers and processors raised during a regional consultation process. The strategy is based on five themes: planning for future generations, focusing on consumers, supporting innovation and business management, strengthening local production, and capacity building and partnerships. The document will provide a framework for the next five years, and will address food security, distribution, land development, livestock farming, and labour and diversification.

Over the past five years, the Provincial Government has contributed approximately $17 million to support the development and growth of industry through programs such as the Agriculture and Agrifoods Development Fund, and the Agrifoods Assistance Program. The Provincial Government also contributes to Growing Forward, a federal/provincial/territorial program, investing $6.7 million over the past year.

A copy of Our Farms, Our Foods, Our Future agriculture strategy is available at www.gov.nl.ca/nr/publications/agrifoods/ 

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Media contact:
Heather Maclean
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca 

2012 05 25             1:10 p.m.