Growing Forward in Ontario

Drawing on extensive input from our industry partners, Growing Forward programs in Ontario were developed to reflect the province's agriculture and food processing diversity.

Under the Growing Forward initiative, the federal and provincial governments will make significant investments in Ontario in two suites of programs: Best Practices and Innovation and Science.

Best Practices: Addressing the Fundamentals

The Best Practices suite helps improve performance in four key areas:

• Environment and Climate Change
• Food Safety and Traceability
• Business Development
• Biosecurity

Flexibility is the key for all Best Practices programs. Under Growing Forward, producers and processors able to better pick the programs that address their needs.

Programs offer a variety of information sessions and workshops, as well as one-on-one training and technical assistance, to help participants develop strategies to meet their business goals.

Innovation and Science: From Idea to Market

We are encouraging the commercialization of research ideas through the following initiatives:

• Science Clusters are industry-led applied science and technology research centres. In Ontario, the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is a focal point for excellence in research and commercialization focused on the horticulture sector.
• The Farm Innovation Program will support the development and adoption of innovative on-farm technologies that can increase the ability of producers to respond to changing demands and opportunities and improve on-farm profitability.
• The Agri-Tech Commercialization Centre will expand opportunities for new agri-based products in Ontario by accelerating the commercialization process and attracting investment.

Assessment Tool

Let us help you find the Growing Forward program that helps you meet your business needs.

For more information on Growing Forward, please call 1-888-479-3931 or e-mail growingforward@ontario.ca