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Canada invests in innovation to support the food sector

Mirabel, Quebec – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canada’s agri-food industry continues to diversify to meet the changing needs of Canadians and those around the world. Research is essential to the discovery of new and innovative food products and sources that allow Canadian producers and processors to develop and expand into new markets.

Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, announced an investment of up to $210,970 to the Centre de recherche agroalimentaire de Mirabel (CRAM) under the federal Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program. This funding will enable CRAM to examine several aspects of edible insects for food and feed, specifically the impacts of rearing conditions, diet and processing methods, as well as how automated production methods could reduce costs.

During her visit to CRAM, Minister Joly also took the opportunity to highlight recent announcements made in Quebec as part of Minister MacAulay’s ‘Growing Canadian Agriculture’ cross country tour which started in Quebec last week and ends in British Columbia on July 17.

The Minister is meeting with farmers, processors and industry leaders, as well as participate in rural agricultural events, to highlight strategic federal agricultural investments and programs.

On June 26, Minister MacAulay announced a federal investment of up to $910,355 to Fromagerie La Station to help the cheese processor purchase and install robotic equipment to improve the quality of its products and enhance production capacity.

In addition, a federal investment of up to $12.7 million was announced to Swine Innovation Porc, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Clusters. Swine Innovation Porc, will contribute up to an additional $5.8 million to the Swine Research and Development Cluster for a total value of up to $18.5 million.

Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said, “Canadian farmers know the importance of developing new and innovative products, and of exploring new avenues to ensure they remain on the cutting edge. Today’s announcement will help researchers and industry better understand the potential benefits of insect products as food and feed sources.”

“Our agriculture sector and all the high-quality jobs that depend on it in Mirabel and elsewhere in Canada must be able to continue innovating in order to stay competitive and expand into new markets. I am proud to announce this funding to the Centre de recherche agroalimentaire de Mirabel, which plays a vital role in agri-food research and technology transfer. This funding will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on insect rearing and production for food and feed and will help position Canada as a leader in this fast-growing sector,”said Mélanie Joly, Minister of Heritage.

Caroline Provost, Executive Director, Centre de recherche en agroalimentaire de Mirabel said, “The production of insects for human and animal consumption is a developing sector in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. This industry has immense potential, given the markets that are emerging and the low environmental impact of insect production. Nevertheless, a number of parameters still need to be determined to ensure production that is efficient and profitable and that meets the potential of this sector. The objective of the project funded under the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program is to improve production processes, rearing diets and processing methods for four species with excellent gastronomic and nutritional potential.”

Source: https://www.canada.ca/

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