The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, and Gudie Hutchings, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, at the Agriculture Expo in Corner Brook today provided details on investments focused on growing the agriculture industry and supporting entrepreneurs through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP).
Minister Byrne also provided details on projects approved under the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program (PAAP) which will also help strengthen and grow the Newfoundland and Labrador agriculture sector.
To date, the Provincial and Federal Governments under CAP have committed over $5.6 million for 87 projects in Newfoundland and Labrador. The projects focus on innovation, environmental sustainability and climate change, encouraging new entrants to the sector, secondary processing, food self-sufficiency and risk mitigation for the agriculture industry. CAP will provide $37 million over five years to the Newfoundland and Labrador agriculture and agri-food industry.
The Provincial Government has also committed $2.75 million this year under PAAP for land development and agriculture infrastructure. To date, $2.48 million of the total amount has been committed for 110 projects that support food self-sufficiency, increase agricultural growth, increase secondary processing and generate employment.
These programs support targets set out in the Provincial Government’s Way Forward and Agriculture Sector Work Plan to increase Newfoundland and Labrador’s food self-sufficiency to at least 20 per cent by 2022, increase secondary processing of food products, and generate employment within the agriculture industry.
Supporting agriculture also delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation and deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
Quotes
“We believe that by working together, the Provincial and Federal Governments, farmers and producers and other stakeholders, will achieve the goals and targets set forth for us and bring the agriculture industry to the next level. As we move into Small Business Week we should take a moment to acknowledge farmers and producers as proven entrepreneurs who embrace challenge and innovation. It is because of their efforts that we are seeing a significant impact on the economy, the agriculture industry and our province.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
“We are proud to partner with Newfoundland and Labrador to invest in projects that support innovation, environmental sustainability, opportunities for new entrants, food-self sufficiency and risk management. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will make the province’s agriculture industry even stronger and more competitive, supporting jobs and economic growth.”
Gudie Hutchings
Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains
“The Canadian Agricultural Partnership and the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program bring significant benefits, contributing to employment and growth in the agriculture industry. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture continues to collaborate with the federal and provincial governments to ensure these funding programs are utilized in the best interests of our membership.”
Merv Wiseman
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
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Learn More
Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program
Canadian Agricultural Partnership
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