Agri-Food Businesses Get Funding in Oxford County

Wednesday, 20 November 2024 16:56

14 Agri-food businesses in Oxford County will be getting funding to help with productivity.

OXFORD COUNTY - Funding is on its way for 14 Oxford County agri-food businesses.

The province along with the federal government will partner together to help enhance operational efficiencies and productivity through the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative. Oxford MPP, Ernie Hardeman says it is a great way to help local businesses.

"By funding these projects in Oxford, we are driving economic growth in the region. I look forward to the positive ripple effects this will have throughout our local communities."

Below is the list of Oxford County businesses that will receive money and what that money will be used for.

- P.H. Kuivenhoven Greenhouses in Otterville will receive up to $100,000 for a hydrangea grader,

- Schep’s Bakeries Ltd in Norwich will receive up to $100,000 for a filling technology innovation initiative,

- Streef Produce in Princeton will receive up to $100,000 for an automated poly potato packer,

- David Ysselstein of Woodstock will receive up to $100,000 for a manure drying system to improve efficiency and growth,

- 2026096 Ontario Inc in Otterville will receive up to $91,175 to incorporate automation for feeding systems,

- Sedum Master Inc. in Princeton will receive up to $100,000 to implement autonomous, electric laser weeding technology,

- Compass Dairy Farms Ltd in Mount Elgin will receive up to $100,000 for automating dairy hygiene for enhanced efficiency,

- Donron Farms Ltd in Woodstock will receive up to $53,228 to implement a heat exchanger for improved efficiency,

- Maple Lane Dairy Farms Inc. of Woodstock will receive up to $77,709 for automated on-farm robot feed manufacturing,

- Joosse Holdings Inc. of Woodstock will receive up to $35,052 to automate egg processing for increased efficiency and competitiveness,

- Rocks Mill Farms in Tillsonburg will receive up to $100,000 for an innovative asparagus harvester to revolutionize efficiency,

- Roelofsen Nursery Ltd of Otterville will receive up to $49,350 for an electric self-propelled sprayer for field nursery crops,

- Providence Farms of Norwich will receive up to $48,300 for camera-guided AI weed control technology, and

- Hammer Lane Farming Ltd in LaSalette will receive up to $100,000 for a fully integrated optical grading line.

Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Rob Flack shares his thoughts on the announcement.

"Our government knows that supporting innovation in Ontario’s agriculture and food sector is key to it reaching its potential while securing our collective ability to achieve the ambitious goals in our Grow Ontario Strategy. These investments will allow established and emerging businesses to speed up efforts to optimize their operations and support growth for our agriculture and food sector."

Approved projects have to be completed by the end of 2027.