The federal government is launching a $1-billion Food-Link Fund aimed at improving food distribution infrastructure, increasing competition and giving Canadians better access to affordable, locally produced food.
Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson announced the fund Monday as part of the government’s broader $3.2-billion National Food Security Strategy, unveiled in June.
The Food-Link Fund will support investments intended to move food more efficiently from producers to consumers while strengthening connections between farmers, food businesses, independent retailers and regional markets.
“Strong food supply chains help get more affordable high-quality food to Canadians, no matter where they live. The Food-Link Fund will help build the infrastructure we need to move food more efficiently, open new markets for producers, and give independent grocers more options,” federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said in a release.
The program will include two main streams.
The Food Terminal Fund will support the development and expansion of wholesale food terminals and distribution centres. Ottawa said the facilities will provide farmers, food businesses and independent retailers with additional places to sell and source products outside distribution systems controlled by large retailers.
Meanwhile, the Food Hub Program will support regional food hubs that provide producers with storage, processing, distribution and market connections. Eligible investments could include cold storage, transportation, processing and packaging equipment, digital systems and facility upgrades.
The government said the program is intended to address gaps in regional food aggregation and distribution, particularly in underserved markets and communities.
Applications for the Food-Link Fund will open Oct. 14 and remain open for eight weeks, closing Dec. 11. Applicants will first submit an Expression of Interest, with projects that align with the fund’s objectives invited to submit full proposals.
The Food-Link Fund is part of the federal government’s 10-year National Food Security Strategy, which Ottawa says is designed to reduce food production and distribution costs, improve productivity and innovation, support independent grocers and increase competition across Canada’s food system.
