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By Alice McFarlane

manufacturer assistance

New program for Canadian food processors to navigate trade uncertainty

Mar 20, 2025 | 1:30 PM

Plant-based ingredient manufacturers and food processors will have access to assistance to reformulate using Canadian inputs for the Canadian market in the wake of the ongoing uncertainty around trade with the US.

CEO of Protein Industries Canada Robert Hunter said the $3 million program will support the development of new, or the redevelopment of existing products.

“Now more than ever, it is vital that we support our Canadian ingredient manufacturers and food processors. Their ability to remain viable is key to Canada’s agriculture and food sector, and Canada’s domestic supply chain,” Hunter said. “This program will help our manufacturers and processors create or reformulate products for the Canadian market, using Canadian ingredients.”

The Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program will reimburse up to 75 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum project cost of $200,000.

To be eligible, projects must include at least one of the following:

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• Reformulating products with domestically produced ingredients.

• Scale-up and commercialization work to increase the supply of domestically produced food products to Canadian consumers.

• Scale-up and commercialization of domestically produced ingredients to Canadian manufacturers.

Projects are required to use Canadian feedstocks or ingredients derived from Canadian crops such as wheat, oats, barley, peas, soy or fava beans. Other emerging crops, such as lupin or hemp, will also be considered.

In addition to launching the new program, Protein Industries Canada is also making changes to its Technology Leadership Program to increase the rate of reimbursement on the cost of eligible commissioned capital and equipment.

It will be applied retroactively to all current projects, and all projects currently in development, will help offset the cost of installing capital equipment in Canada, helping Canadian companies build out their processing capacity in Canada.

Hunter said Canada can be the preferred ingredient supplier to the world building off strong advantages as an agricultural powerhouse.

“To seize that opportunity we must invest in, and support, our domestic processing capacity,” he said. “The Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program, is an interim step to help our companies weather the current turbulence, but as a country we need to become serious about our ability to add value to our products here at home. In doing so, we will not only secure Canada’s food supply chain, but we will also generate new economic growth and jobs for Canadians.”

Companies interested in applying to the Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program can send an email to projects@proteinsupercluster.ca.

Application forms and further program information are expected to be available by the end of March.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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