| TORONTO – The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $20 million through the new Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative to help farmers, food processors and agribusinesses sell more Ontario grown products around the world. The Initiative will fund a variety of projects to increase competitiveness for farmers and agribusinesses and support their expansion into new and international markets as part of the provincial government$B!G(Bs plan to protect Ontario$B!G(Bs agribusiness sector.
As part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, this investment supports the province$B!G(Bs Grow Ontario Strategy to give farmers and businesses the tools they need to build long-term resiliency, create good-paying jobs and stay competitive in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty. $B!H(BExpanding markets for Ontario food products ensures farmers and food processors have more reliable export opportunities,$B!I(B said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. $B!H(BWe are building a stronger, more resilient future for agriculture by improving market access and leveraging our shared strengths.$B!I(B $B!H(BThis investment will help our local farmers and agribusinesses sell more products grown in Ontario to markets around the world,$B!I(B said Trevor Jones, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. $B!H(BOur government is proud to support the farmers and businesses who drive our nearly $52 billion agri-food sector forward each and every day.$B!I(B The Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative will open for applications on February 17, 2026 to help Ontario farmers and agribusinesses expand domestic and international sales and strengthen production capacity through three funding streams.
Funding through the Initiative will cover a proportion of approved project costs. The cost-share level and the maximum eligible funding amount per project will vary based on the type of proposals submitted. The Initiative will offer increased support for export development projects targeting non-U.S. markets as well as provide support for projects in United States markets. The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a 5-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada$B!G(Bs agriculture, agri$B!>(Bfood sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories, cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially. |
||
Quick Facts
|
||
Quotes“The CFFO supports the Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative as an important opportunity for producers of safe, high-quality food to expand their reach into new markets. By opening doors to more customers at home and abroad, this initiative strengthens our agri-food sector and creates greater opportunities for Ontario and Canadian producers to succeed on a global scale.” – Henk Vaarkamp President, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario “As the largest manufacturing sector by employment in Ontario, food and beverage processing comprises over 4,000 companies, 90 per cent of which are small businesses. We appreciate the ongoing strong support of the sector from the provincial government. The creation of this fund highlights the need to increase competitiveness and encourage expansion into new markets. This will help ensure an ongoing viable processing sector in Ontario.” – Chris Conway CEO, Food & Beverage Ontario “Ontario farmers produce some of the highest quality food and agricultural products in the world. Creating and strengthening reliable markets for our products has never been more important both at the local level and globally. We appreciate the efforts of the province and the federal government as we work together to support a strong, vibrant, and growing agricultural sector.” – Drew Spoelstra President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture |
||
Additional ResourcesSustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada |
||
Media ContactsSpencer Fair Minister’s Office Spencer.Fair@ontario.ca Jennica Klassen Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food jennica.klassen@agr.gc.ca Connie Osborne Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness OMAFRA.media@ontario.ca Media Relations Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa, Ontario 613-773-7972 1-866-345-7972 aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca |
