Alberta is working to create more jobs in the agriculture industry.
The provincial government is streamlining its Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) grant process to make it easier for producers and food manufacturers to access funds.
Alberta’s nine programs will be organized under three themes: Growth and Value-Added, Farm Efficiency and Public Trust and will start to roll out in summer 2021.
“CAP grants have increased our farmers’, ranchers’ and producers’ competitiveness and this will continue going forward,” said Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry on Friday.
“Value-added processing is so important to the industry and a simplified grant process will help us attract private investment across Alberta and create jobs.”
In 2020-21, the program awarded 989 grants that aim to help farmers and businesses grow and innovate. It is estimated that these grants have led to more than $150 million in investment and created more than 750 jobs in the agriculture and agri-food processing sector.
Funding for the five-year $406-million partnership remains unchanged.
Dreeshen is also looking for feedback on the Next Policy Framework that will replace CAP, which will expire in 2023.
“Alberta’s agri-food sector is doing well despite the challenges in recent years, but we know that challenges will likely continue to persist. Through CAP and the NPF, we will support Alberta’s Recovery Plan through increased investment attraction and improved market access,” he said.
Dreeshen is asking Albertans to fill out an online survey your.alberta.ca/canadian-agricultural-partnerships-in-alberta/survey_tools/next-policy-framework-survey by July 2.