The Canada and Manitoba governments announced they will invest $1.2 million in 275 on-farm food safety and animal welfare projects.

“This is the first year animal welfare projects were included in the program and the response from Manitoba farmers was extremely positive,” said Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. “Manitoba farmers continue to be innovators and leaders when it comes to biosecurity, assurance systems, animal care and food safety. We are proud to support their good work with funding from this program.”

Manitoba farmers applied for funding to improve biosecurity, traceability, food safety and quality, and animal welfare practices on their farms.

“Farmers are committed to producing safe, high-quality foods that consumers enjoy and trust, both in Canada and abroad,” said Dr. Eyolfson. “Investments in biosecurity, traceability and assurance systems contribute to consumer confidence and yield greater prosperity for Manitoba farmers and their families.”

In total, 255 livestock producers and 20 crop producers were approved for funding under Growing Forward 2’s growing assurance – food safety on-farm program.

To be eligible, producers must have implemented a national on-farm food safety program for their commodity where one exists.

More than half of the approved projects (141) focus on animal welfare and will help Manitoba farmers implement new requirements under national codes of practice for caring for livestock.

Grain farmers were able to apply for funding to support a number of projects that would improve biosecurity, including in-field pest monitoring, seed testing for pathogens, grain sample storage and managing access to equipment and fields.