Connecting the Needs of Food and Beverage Processors with the Priorities for Research and Innovation Français
WINNIPEG, May 1, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is providing an additional investment of $120,000 to the Canadian Food Innovators (CFI) science cluster in order to consult with food and beverage processors on the research and innovation priorities they want to see to advance the sector.
This investment will support CFI in its efforts to better connect the needs of food and beverage processors with the capacity and resources available through research centres, universities and food technology centres.
CFI will seek input from a broad section of Canada's food and beverage processing sector to create a list of Forward Research and Innovation priorities designed to stimulate innovation and growth in Canada's food industry. This additional funding brings the total investment with CFI to $2.6 million and builds on the activities currently underway as part of the five-year (2013-18) Canadian Food Processing Innovation and Prosperity Cluster.
Budget 2017 recognizes that Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector is an important driver of economic growth. Through Budget 2017, the Government continues to support science, innovation and the overall competitiveness of the sector, to create better opportunities for farmers and Canadians.
Quotes
"This investment will help Canadian food and beverage manufacturers better compete, innovate and capitalize on new opportunities. Our government's commitment to the added-value of the agri-food sector was clearly demonstrated in our recent federal budget – the sector will help grow the economy, create good, new well-paying jobs and grow the middle class."
- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"We welcome this opportunity to consult with food and beverage processing businesses across the country to receive their input into research priorities that will help shape the next national food processing research cluster. Canada's food and beverage processing sector buys and processes over 50% of farmers' production across Canada into consumer-ready products that are sold across Canada and into numerous export markets. CFI is here to support innovation within companies and the competitiveness of the entire industry."
- David Shambrock, Chair of Canadian Food Innovators
Quick Facts
- Canadian Food Innovators will be holding Food and Beverage Innovation Priority Forum sessions across the country, seeking input from Canada's food and beverage processing industry to understand research needs and innovation priorities at the company level. Please visit Canadian Food Innovators for dates, locations, and information on how to participate.
- Canadian Food Innovators food processing science cluster is an industry-led cluster that brings together a critical mass of scientific research expertise in industry, academia, and government to accelerate innovation through commercialization and adoption of innovative agri-based products, technologies, processes and services.
- The food and beverage processing industry accounted for the largest share (16 per cent) of the total manufacturing sector GDP in 2014. (Source: An Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food System, 2016)
- The Canadian Food Processing and Beverage sector provides jobs for over 240,000 Canadians.
- The investment in the research cluster is part of AAFC's AgriInnovation Program, a $698-million initiative under the five-year Growing Forward 2 framework, designed to support research and development industry-led activities.
Additional Links
- Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- AgriInnovation Program (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Canadian Food Innovators
- An Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food System, 2016
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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Contacts: Guy Gallant, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, 613-773-1059; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972 ; David Shambrock, Chairman, Canadian Food Innovators, Phone: (204) 982-6372 x102, Email: [email protected]
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