The Canadian Provincial Government is investing nearly $346,000 to support agriculture infrastructure projects for fruit and vegetable producers under the 2023-24 Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program, including more than $127,000 for eight new entrants to the agriculture sector.
Access to good food is a key social determinant of health, and these projects will help support the well-being of residents by increasing food self-sufficiency, agricultural growth, and secondary processing in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Agriculture infrastructure projects include support for three greenhouse operations and funding for equipment to help vegetable, fruit, and forage producers enhance vegetable production, improve soil health, and adapt to climate change. Details on investments are available in the backgrounder below.
Budget 2023 approved $2.25 million for the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program to support current farmers and new entrants to the province's agriculture and agrifoods sectors. The program has two streams, focusing on agriculture infrastructure and land development. Projects support food self-sufficiency and increase agricultural growth and secondary processing.
The Provincial Government is also investing nearly $757,000 to support agriculture infrastructure projects for dairy and livestock producers, including more than $185,000 for pasture development projects and more than $60,000 for four new entrants to the livestock sector.
The Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program is one of two major programs that support Newfoundland and Labrador's agriculture sector. Under the five-year, $3.5-billion Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Newfoundland and Labrador's farmers and producers can also access more than $42 million in cost-shared funding. With the support of these programs, Newfoundland and Labrador's agriculture sector has exceeded the Provincial Government's goal of doubling food self-sufficiency in fruit and vegetable production from 10 percent to 20 percent, reaching more than 21 percent by the end of 2022.
"The variety of initiatives funded for fruit and vegetable producers under this year's Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program reflects farmers' commitment to diverse and environmentally sustainable farms. I am especially pleased to see new sector entrants committing to a future in agriculture. By working together and investing in agriculture, we are improving food self-sufficiency in Newfoundland and Labrador", said Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.
"Fruit and vegetable producers are committed to diversifying crops, improving infrastructure, adapting to the challenges of climate change, and making this sector stronger and more self-sufficient. The Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program has consistently provided support to help us with the changing environment. We appreciate the Provincial Government's ongoing commitment to expanding and enhancing our sector", said Melvin J. Rideout, President Fruit & Vegetable Growers Newfoundland and Labrador.