Rae announces over $850,000 for Local Agricultural Producers
[Perth-Wellington]— Today, Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington announced that local agricultural producer, VDB Grains, in partnership with the Governments of Canada and Ontario will be receiving up to $70,000 through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership program. This funding will allow VDB Grains to move from diesel fuel to Solar Photovoltaic cell technology, which will reduce their energy needs and operating costs.
“Our government understands the importance of working with our agricultural producers,” MPP Rae said. “We will continue to make investments that increase efficiency and make it cheaper for our farm families to put food on the kitchen tables of Ontarians.”
30 food processors across the province will be supported by the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative to help lower costs and be more competitive and sustainable. The Initiative focused on supporting projects that prioritized reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in new technology, equipment, or facility modifications. This funding will contribute to an anticipated $3 million in annual operational cost savings for recipient businesses.
“The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative enables VDB Grains Ltd. to invest in solar modules that will support +95% of our energy needs reducing our GHG emissions by ~362.12 tonnes of CO2e annually,” said Steve Feeney, CFO of VDB Grains. “This investment in renewable energy production enhances VDB Grain’s ability to grow and future our business.”
“As the food processing hub of Canada, Ontario is uniquely poised to see further growth in this sector which is why our government is continuing to bring forward initiatives that work,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Through the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative and a host of other actions, we’re making significant progress in achieving the ambitious targets for growth we’ve set out in our Grow Ontario Strategy.”
The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative was developed following discussions with Ontario’s food processing sector. It is part of a series of initiatives the government has implemented to support food processing in Ontario including committing up to $25 million through the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative, which applications opened on February 15, 2024.
This funding is in addition to the $781,000 provided to eight local agricultural producers through the province’s Food Security and Supply Chain Fund (FSSCF). FSSCF works with industry partners to address supply chain issues, reduce agri-food sector vulnerabilities, increase resilience, and strengthen food supply for Ontario.
FSSCF funding as provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs:
| Recipient | Funding Amount |
| Melady Acres Ltd. | $125,000 |
| V.D.B. Grains Ltd. | $125,000 |
| Vanmeurs Farm Ltd. | $125,000 |
| Daneholm Holsteins Ltd. | $125,000 |
| HMHJ Farms Ltd | $3,000 |
| Drummond Crop Inc | $123,000 |
| Harriston Packing Company | $30,000 |
| Farm Fresh Poultry Ltd. | $125,000 |
| TOTAL | $781,000 |