Government of Canada funds milk processors in Quebec

The Government of Canada has announced an investment of more than CAD$4.5 million (US$3.6 million ) in three projects to help increase production for Quebec milk processors.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, speaking at Fromagerie Médard in St. dollars (800 thousand US dollars) through the Department of Economic Development Canada for the regions of Quebec (CED).

The funding will be used to purchase new equipment to increase productivity and reduce production costs. By 2025, this is expected to create two more jobs and increase processing capacity by 74%.

The Nutrinor cooperative also received up to $395,000 ($316,000) from DPIF to purchase an ultrafiltration system. The project will allow the cooperative to increase the production of liquid milk protein concentrate, increase the amount of milk processed, as well as increase the number of cheese factories to which it supplies its products.

Fromagerie Boivin receives through DPIF an investment of up to CAD 1.34 million (US$ 1.07 million) for new equipment to increase production and up to CAD 800,000 (US$ 640,000) through Economic Development Canada for the regions Quebec to expand its manufacturing facility and strategically acquire equipment to optimize processed cheese production and modernize its filling line. The project will expand the manufacturing facility to allow employees to physically distance themselves.

Fromagerie Boivin processes about 20 million liters of milk to produce 2.3 million kilograms of cheese. The company provides full employment for 85 people.

The DPIF investment fund, valued at 100 million Canadian dollars (80 million US dollars), is designed to help dairy processors modernize their operations, improving their productivity and competitiveness.

Canada's 2021 Budget proposes an additional investment of CAD292.5 million (US$234 million) over seven years to help all regulated supply processors, including poultry and egg processors.

There are over 500 milk processors in Canada. In 2020, they generated CA$17 billion (US$13.6 billion) in sales and over 25,000 jobs. Including both direct and indirect employment, Canada's milk processing sector provides about 211,000 jobs.

PioneerProduct based on dairyreporter.com