Northern Ontario Hertiage Fund provides $1.5 million for agriculture projects in Sault area

Peter Bruijns, Executive Director for Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre attends funding announcement at Thomson Farms with MPP Ross Romano, Brad Morley (Thomson Farms), and Brian Ehnes (Lallemand Plant Care).

Article sourced from https://www.sootoday.com.

To view the video announcement, click here.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation will provide $1.5 million for four agriculture sector projects in Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area.

The projects include creating and upgrading agricultural technology and inoculations, as well as drainage projects to create more farmland.

For more details, please see the included press release below.

The Ontario government is providing more than $1.5 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to four agriculture sector projects in the Sault Ste. Marie area. This investment will help create good-paying jobs, boost economic growth and improve quality of life in northern communities.

“These four projects represent a combined $1.5 million investment on a variety of projects that will add jobs, expand businesses, and encourage their economic growth,” said Ross Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie. “The agriculture sector is incredibly important in the overall economic picture of Northern Ontario, in our community and region, and I am happy to advocate for continued support to strengthen it.”

The following funding is being delivered through the NOHFC:

• $683,725 and $429,910 for the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre to complete two tile drainage projects on more than 2,000 acres of farmland in the Algoma and Manitoulin regions. The project will create 14 new jobs and benefit 21 area producers.
• $360,000 for Lallemand Inc. to establish a specialized bacteria inoculation facility and provide plant care solutions to agribusinesses. This project will create 16 jobs and benefit soybean and pulse producers across Canada.
• $99,032 for Thomson Fruit Wines to renovate its facility and purchase new equipment to expand its business and offer new products, creating three jobs.

“Supporting the growth and prosperity of the agri-food sector and employment in rural communities throughout Northern Ontario is a priority for our government,” said Lisa Thompson, minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “These investments build on other actions contributing to the many stories of innovation, growth and success emerging in the Northern Ontario farming and agri-food sector.”

“The agricultural sector is a key driver of economic growth in Northern Ontario and we are proud to make investments that create jobs and keep the North competitive,” said Greg Rickford, minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. “These investments will help our agriculture sector grow and thrive, providing good job opportunities for northerners.”

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $432 million in 4,025 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.4 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 6,200 jobs.

Quotes:

“The Regional Tile Drainage Program funded through NOHFC has increased crop yields and helped producers be more prepared for climate change in Algoma and across northern Ontario. This funding will further encourage increased investment in the agri-food sector to produce quality crops for decades to come.” - David Thompson, RAIN Manager

"On behalf of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre’s Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) we thank the Province of Ontario for investing in Algoma’s agri-food sector through the Regional Tile Drainage Program. Our changing climate has seen more intense weather, droughts and flooding that has severely impacted Northern producers. The investments in tile drainage have not only led to a more productive growing season, but it has also helped producers be more prepared for climate change. Since the program started, we have seen amazing results that include infrastructure investment in processing and increased production of cash crops, beef cattle, and berries produced here at Thomson Farms. While tile drainage is one part of the puzzle to address infrastructure challenges, we are excited about emerging opportunities in processing and vertical farming that will be part of RAIN’s agri-food growth strategy." - Peter Bruijns, Executive Director Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre