A $2.3 million investment into the expansion of the Agri-Food Innovation Centre has been announced by the governments of Saskatchewan and Canada.
The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, the province’s only commercial incubation centre for food processing, is undergoing a major expansion to assist food processors with adding value to their products and preparing to bring them to market, according to a government of Saskatchewan press release.
The first phase addition has added 12,200 square feet at the site of the Agri-Food Innovation Centre in Saskatoon. The first phase expansion will consist of additional incubation suites, storage and an extrusion commercialization suite; the second phase will include a maintenance shop and a separate facility for food and industrial (non-food) processing.
“This funding will support the development of new agri-food products, creating more jobs and a more diversified agricultural economy for Saskatchewan,” said Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Marie-Claude Bibeau.
“The expansion of the food centre reflects not only the growth of our value-added food and beverage processing sector in Saskatchewan, but also the food centre’sreputation for excellence and innovation,” Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said.
The food centre is a non-profit organization resulting from a partnership between the Government of Saskatchewan (represented by the Ministry of Agriculture), the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association, and the University of Saskatchewan.
“The food centre’s vision to be a leader in Saskatchewan's agri-food industry is stronger than ever with the new expansion of the Agri-Food Innovation Centre,” food centre president Dan Prefontaine said.
“The additional capacity in extrusion technology will support commercialization of Saskatchewan-grown crops in many innovative food products, specifically the plant-based protein market. Our new incubation suites will continue to support the growth of agri-businesses by providing options for entrepreneurs and start-up companies in the agri-food sector.”
Since its inception in 1997, the food centre has served more than 400 clients and assisted with the development of 885 new products.
