St. George – The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing an additional $9 million in the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help farmers enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of their farms. Funding will be used to help with the adoption of new technologies and best management practices to support soil health, water quality, and energy efficiency while increasing on-farm productivity.
The initiative will also help Ontario farmers improve the long-term environmental resilience of their farms. Farmers will be able to submit up to two applications to the program, depending on their needs, with successful recipients receiving up to $90,000 depending on the project category.
The Agricultural Stewardship Initiative is being delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA).
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a 5-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.
“Farmers care deeply about the environment and they’re constantly making their operations more sustainable. This important investment will help farmers here in Ontario adapt to environmental challenges, so they can continue to succeed for generations to come.” – Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food