Thursday April 27, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
A new food processing growth fund of as much as $20 million will help B.C. food-and-beverage-processing (BCFB) businesses increase productivity, economic opportunities and competitiveness, while strengthening food security for British Columbians.
Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food, made this announcement yesterday.
Food production is particularly important on Vancouver Island, where presently only about three percent of food consumed by islanders is produced locally. This has been the case for years, seeing a decline from decades ago.
The Food Processing Growth Fund is part of the $200 million the B.C. government is using to support food security in B.C. (as announced March 7, 2023), which is from within the 2022-2023 provincial budget surplus.
BC food security resilience directions were outlined in Budget 2023.
Keeping food local:
“Helping B.C.’s food and beverage companies increase their production will result in more B.C. ingredients being used, more B.C. products being enjoyed and more economic activity in communities around our province,” said Minister Alexis.
“The fund will help businesses increase their capacity and sales, and further support the food security and livelihoods of British Columbians.”
B.C.’s food and beverage processing sector includes 3,200 companies with sales over $12 billion annually and 40,000 employees.
Sector training:
Part of the funding will be used to develop a training curriculum to help B.C. processors increase their growth, production and efficiency.
Upgrades to established businesses:
The fund will support upgrades to established businesses, such as new or expanded production and storage facilities, the use of robotics and other technology, new product development and commercialization, specialized training for production staff on new technology and systems, and the hiring of specialized experts, such as food scientists to support new products and processes.
“By investing in B.C.’s food- and beverage-processing businesses, we are not only promoting economic growth and creating new job opportunities, but also ensuring the security and sustainability of our local food system,” said James Donaldson, CEO, BC Food & Beverage.
“This fund will help these businesses scale up, innovate and stay competitive, while also increasing the use of locally sourced ingredients and products. It’s a win-win for British Columbians and the province’s largest manufacturing sector.”
Business expansion:
The fund aims to increase food production and economic growth by helping established B.C. food-processing businesses expand. This helps to keep these businesses in B.C., ensuring the province’s largest manufacturing sector continues to evolve and grow.
The Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF) and its partner organizations are also developing a program to support small-scale food processors and abattoirs with annual revenues less than $500,000, and anticipates the program will open this summer.
Who is eligible:
Eligible recipients include established B.C.-based food, beverage and seafood processors with $500,000 in annual revenue, as well as commercial food hubs, for-rent commercial kitchens, and industry groups and associations.
Subsidiaries can apply for funding separately from their parent organization provided they are legal entities and meet the 2-year and $500,000 criteria as a subsidiary. The total funding for the parent organization and all subsidiaries must not exceed the project funding limits per stream.
The fund will be delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF). Click here for: Application packages and criteria
Eligible expenses:
Eligible expenses include facility expansion, equipment, new technology and systems, applied research and development, and training.
Accessing funding:
“Food processors are a vital part of the agriculture and agrifood sector in BC. It’s great to continue to work with them delivering this very important program,” said James Pratt, vice-chair of IAF’s board of directors.
“Accessing the right kind of funding is a major pain point for many processors and is a requirement in order for companies to become national and world-leaders. As a trusted partner, IAF’s professional and dedicated staff are focused on delivering this new funding with our continued excellence,” said Pratt.
- B.C.’s food and beverage processing sector includes 3,200 companies with sales over $12 billion annually and 40,000 employees.
- BCFB will be using part of the funding to develop a training curriculum to help B.C. processors increase their growth, production and efficiency.
- The Food Processing Growth Fund is part of the $200 million the B.C. government is using to support food security in B.C.
Government resources:
===== RELATED:
- Food security program toured by Education & Agriculture Ministers (April 25, 2023)
- Premier Eby announces $200 million for BC food security initiatives (March 7, 2023)
- BC food security resilience directions in 2023 (March 1, 2023)
- BC food security direction includes watchful eye on California (February 6, 2023)
- Farm workers 2023 minimum wage increase underscores food security (December 30, 2022)
- Steps forward in assessing food security (October 25, 2022)
===== ABOUT THE WRITER & ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Mary P Brooke is the editor and publisher of Island Social Trends as published daily at islandsocialtrends.ca.
She has been covering politics, business, education and communities through a socioeconomic lens since 2008 on south Vancouver Island (previously as West Shore Voice News, and before that both Sooke Voice News and MapleLine Magazine).
Ms Brooke followed and wrote extensively about the COVID pandemic during 2020-2022, and continues to follow the topic as new developments arise. She has covered Sooke School District 62 (SD62) in depth since 2014 and BC education more broadly for over 10 years.
Among other qualifications, Ms Brooke holds a health sciences B.Sc. (Foods & Nutrition), a university Certificate in Public Relations, and an industry certificate in digital marketing.