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Growing Forward - Food Safety and Traceability Initiative

Author: OMAFRA Staff
Creation Date: 16 March 2006
Last Reviewed: 27 January 2010

Program Update:

Applications will be accepted after 9:00 a.m. on March 1, 2010. Applications received prior to this date and time will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant. Early submission is strongly encouraged as applications will be received and assessed on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds are exhausted.

For information on other cost-share opportunities under Growing Forward, please visit www.ontario.ca/growingforward or call 1-888-479-3931.

What's New for 2010

  • Increased cost-share funding maximum of $25,000, with a cap of $15,000 for either food safety or traceability expenditures to encourage the adoption of both food safety and traceability projects
  • Increased participant numbers through a change in cost-share ratio to 50 percent
  • Premises Identification is a program eligibility requirement that strengthens Ontario's agriculture and food processing sectors by supporting a strong agri-food traceability system

How Does FSTI Work?

FSTI provides 50% reimbursement of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $25,000 to:
  • implement written food safety programs
  • implement a working traceability system
  • assist in the purchase and installation of equipment that improves food safety or traceability
  • train staff to increase the adoption of food safety and traceability

Growing Forward FSTI proactively manages risks and responds to market demands by providing cost-share funding to individual producer and processing facilities to support the implementation of written food safety programs and working traceability systems.

Food Safety and Traceability Initiative assists you to:

Project Option 1
Project Option 2
Project Option 3
Implement a Food Safety Program and/or a Traceability System
Make improvements to a Recognized Food Safety Program
Improve Food Safety or Traceability

Project Options Include:

Project Option 1: Implementing a Food Safety Program and/or a Traceability System

  • Applicant will develop, write and implement a food safety program, individual food safety practices, or a working traceability system
  • Applicants can request a maximum of $15,000 for either food safety or traceability expenditures. There is a funding cap of $25,000 for a combination of food safety and traceability expenditures.

All Project Option 1 applicants must attend an OMAFRA FSTI Information Session before applying. A certificate will be issued to all participants that attend the information session. A copy of the certificate must be attached to your application form.

Project Option 2: Make improvements to a Recognized Food Safety Program

  • This option is available only to applicants currently certified, audited or verified under a recognized food safety program (see Schedule I) and whose project involves further improvements to their existing food safety program
  • Applicants can request a maximum of $15,000 for either food safety or traceability expenditures. There is a funding cap of $25,000 for a combination of food safety and traceability expenditure

Project Option 3: Improving Food Safety and/or Traceability

  • Applicants may purchase equipment, engage in training, or obtain initial certification, audit or verification of a recognized food safety program (See Schedule 1)
  • Applicants may request a maximum of $5000

Who Can Apply?

For Food Safety Projects
    1. Food Producers: crops or animals for human consumption

    2. Food Processors: food products for human consumption
      *Please note that federally-registered food processors are eligible for traceability projects only

For Traceability Projects

  1. Operations as above plus:
  2. Operations involved in commingling, movement, or storage/warehousing of food products, livestock or crops such as beverage wholesalers/distributors, auction barns and grain elevators
  3. Federally registered food processing facilities

How to Apply

Application Guidelines:

Applications will be accepted after 9:00 a.m. on March 1, 2010. Applications received prior to this date and time will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant. Early submission is strongly encouraged as applications will be received and assessed on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds are exhausted.

In order to be considered for funding under the Food Safety and Traceability Initiative applicants must complete an application form that includes details on how the proposed project will make an improvement in food safety or traceability at their facility.

Applications may be submitted:

OMAFRA FSTI Information Sessions will be held across the province to assist you in preparing your FSTI application when the program re-opens. Note these sessions are mandatory if you choose to apply for Project Option 1 listed above. Please call 1-888-479-3931 (1-888-GRWFWD1) to register.

Learn More

Click here for the Application Guidebook and the Application Form.

Ontario Agri-Food Premises Registry (OAPR)

Getting a Premises Identification
Premises Identification begins with a unique identifying number that is given to a parcel of land that is associated with agri-food activities. In Ontario, premises are identified and registered in the Ontario Agri-Food Premises Registry (OAPR). The purpose of the OAPR is to be able to locate where agricultural and agri-food activities occur in Ontario.

Applying for a Premise ID is easy and free. Contact OnTrace (below) for additional information.

  • online at www.ontraceagrifood.com
  • by calling 519-766-9292 or toll free: 1-888-38-TRACE
  • by mail to
    OnTrace
    1030 Gordon Street, Suite 202
    Guelph, ON, N1G 4X5


For additional resource materials related to Food Safety and Traceability Resources, see:
FSTI Application Guidebook
Food Processing Sector
Agricultural Sector
Traceability


For more information:
Toll Free: 1-888-479-3931 (1-888-GRWFWD1)
E-mail: FSTI.omafra@ontario.ca
Fax: (519) 826-3398