AAFC and Sask Ag & Food News Release
April 18, 2013

GOVERNMENTS INVEST IN AGRICULTURE MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Funding to Increase Trade, Exports and Market Access for Saskatchewan Agriculture Products

Today, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced $9 million in Growing Forward 2 funding over five years for a new Market Development Program. The program will help provincial businesses, organizations and producer groups develop and expand international and domestic markets for their agriculture products.

“Enhanced market access for our producers contributes to long-term prosperity for Saskatchewan and Canada,” said Ritz. “This program will help applicants to develop the tools needed to compete in global markets, strengthening Canada’s reputation as an agricultural leader.”

“Saskatchewan is Canada’s top agri-food exporter and this program will help to ensure a continued strong demand for our agriculture products,” Stewart said. “This initiative will support producer groups and organizations to promote our products and increase market access, which will help us meet our Growth Plan targets to increase exports by 50 per cent.”

The Market Development Program builds on the previous Saskatchewan International Market Development Program and is designed to increase Saskatchewan’s market presence; increase the number and value of incoming trade missions; open, protect and expand market access for Saskatchewan products; and build capacity in the industry to help broaden Saskatchewan’s marketing reach.

Eligible applicants include Saskatchewan agribusinesses, organizations and producer groups involved in the production, processing or marketing of agriculture products. Eligible costs include trade shows, trade missions, promotional materials, incoming buyer missions, training costs and exhibits. Approved applicants can access funding for 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $50,000 per project and $100,000 per applicant per year.

For the first time ever, Saskatchewan exported more than $11 billion in agri-food products in 2012, and remains the nation’s top agri-food exporter, accounting for 23 per cent of Canada’s agri-food exports. In 2012, 18 countries each purchased more than $100 million in Saskatchewan agri-food products, making Saskatchewan agriculture one of the most significant providers of food in the world.

“As a recipient of funding through last year's program, Agribition has realized first-hand the value of programming to help attract international buyers and expand our markets throughout the world,” Canadian Western Agribition CEO Marty Seymour said. “We appreciate this government support which will allow us to further increase awareness of our products and bring new buyers to Saskatchewan.”

“One of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers' (SPG) key strategic goals is to grow market demand for our products to ensure that we remain world leaders in pulse production,” SPG Chair Morgan Nunweiler said. “Collaboration with the government through this new program will enable SPG to continue work on green lentil market development in India with the hotel, restaurant and catering industries, as well as to identify additional opportunities for pulse consumption in other key markets.”

Funding for the Market Development Program is provided under the federal-provincial Growing Forward 2 framework. Interested applicants can find more information on the Ministry of Agriculture website at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2.

- 30 -