The new financing initiative will support large-scale agri-food infrastructure, processing and manufacturing projects aimed at strengthening Canada’s domestic food system.
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has launched a $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance initiative to help finance major food processing and manufacturing projects across Canada. The programme is designed to address financing gaps faced by capital-intensive projects and support greater domestic processing capacity.
FCC has opened a 60-day Expression of Interest (EOI) process, inviting organisations to submit proposals for major agri-food processing and manufacturing developments. The initiative is intended for projects that are sufficiently advanced and construction-ready, with the objective of helping businesses move significant investments forward.
The new financing programme forms part of Canada’s National Food Security Strategy and is focused on strengthening infrastructure and technology throughout the value-added food sector. FCC says the fund will help address financing challenges associated with projects that may be too large, complex or capital-intensive for traditional lending channels.
The initiative is expected to support projects that expand domestic food processing, strengthen supply chains and create additional opportunities for Canadian producers and processors. Increasing processing capacity within the country could also help Canada improve the resilience of its food system and reduce vulnerabilities associated with supply disruptions.
The $1 billion project finance initiative is part of a broader $2 billion commitment by FCC Capital through 2030 to support value-added and capital-intensive projects across Canada’s agriculture and food sectors. Alongside the project finance programme, FCC has also committed $150 million to Velocity Agri-Capital Partners, which will focus on investment opportunities across the agri-food and agri-tech value chain.
The additional investment is expected to support businesses working on technologies, processing capacity and commercial opportunities that can strengthen Canada’s food system. Together, the initiatives are intended to encourage investment, accelerate commercialisation and help Canadian agri-food businesses expand their domestic and international capabilities.
For Canada’s food processing industry, the availability of specialised financing could create opportunities for new facilities, capacity expansions, modernisation projects and advanced processing technologies. The programme also reflects a broader policy focus on strengthening domestic food production and building more resilient supply chains.
With the EOI process now open, eligible organisations can put forward major projects for consideration under the new programme. The initiative represents a significant financial push toward expanding Canada’s value-added food sector and supporting long-term food-system resilience.