The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre in Saskatoon will receive $5 million dollars to continue growing the province's value-added and agri-food sector.
The Federal/Provincial investment will be delivered over the next five years through the Sustainable CAP program.
In making the announcement on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister David Marit noted that Saskatchewan has one of the fastest growing value-added sectors in the country thanks to a combination of our agricultural base, investment potential and research, and innovation assets like the Food Centre.
"I really do value this facility and the work that it does in everything we're trying to do within government to create more value-added processing. And I also want to recognize all those entrepreneurs that have the thought and idea of something they want to develop on the food side, whatever the case may be. I've happened to have met, a lot of those young entrepreneurs that have gone on to really establish themselves in the value chain, in the food processing industry."
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says Saskatchewan has always been a leader in agriculture production.
"With the Food Centre's hard work over the years, and continued work to come, there will be even more opportunities to commercialize regional products in the heart of the Prairies and we're proud to support their efforts."
Established in 1997, the Food Centre helps agriculture-based entrepreneurs by offering product development and commercialization services to agri-food processors.
Over the years, it has supported the development and processing of over 1,000 new products, consulted with more than 500 companies and assisted in product commercialization related to almost all new agri-food start-ups in the province.