Issueupper left Food and Ag Processing green banner across bottled oil assembly line; exruded product to left 

Make Manitoba Agriculture your first point of contact for help as you build your future in food and agri-products. 

Manitoba Agriculture’s Value Added Branch helps accelerate the growth of the food and agri-product sector through two units, Business Development and the Food Development Centre (FDC).

The Business Development Unit is dedicated to supporting the sustainable growth of Manitoba's small, scalable food and agri-product companies.  Our knowledgeable and experienced Business Development Specialists provide access to business and marketing consultations, strategic pathfinding, cutting-edge industry training and funding opportunities.

In its 45 plus year history, the Food Development Centre has established itself as an internationally recognized leader in food research and development, and works behind the scenes for clients of all sizes to ensure that they can successfully innovate and grow. FDC provides technical and research assistance on a  fee-for-service basis. 

Both units work together to provide the expertise and experience to deliver services in a single window approach.  

Click here to build your future in food.


Manitoba Agriculture has launched a Business Pathways website to make it easier to find the connections, tools and resources you need every step of the way, incorporating the programs and services provided by business service providers and industry partners from the entire ecosystem. 

 

In the About the Sector section, you can learn about the food, beverage and protein sectors in Manitoba.


What's New

Supply Chains and the Food and Beverage Industry

Currently, 50% of Manitoba food processors are shipping outside Manitoba within Canada. If you are thinking about expanding your market to other Canadian provinces, consider attending these webinars.
 
Webinar:   Supply Chains:  What they Mean to your Food Business
When:           Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Time:             Noon to 1:00 pm
Speaker:       Rick Reid, Supply Chain Canada, Supply Chain Manitoba
Description:    This presentation will provide a thorough overview of supply chain fundamentals, with an emphasis on transportation and distribution.
 
Webinar:  Competency Benchmarking Tool  - Its use for supply chains in the food and beverage industry
When:          Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Time:            Noon – 1:00 pm
Speaker:      Dylan Bartlett, President and CEO, Supply Chain Canada
Description:    The quick and free competency benchmarking tool (CBT) can be used to identify your business strengths and analyze skill gaps related to supply chain management skills.
This webinar will lay a foundation for education and training and will show how to: utilize an innovative industry tool, explore knowledge gaps, create a custom training plan, and set goals and establish KPIs and learn how to measure results.
To register for one or both webinars (no-cost), click here.

                                                                           Supply Chain Focus Group - Discuss Your Issues and Brainstorm Possible Solutions

In a recent survey, 65% of Manitoba food processors indicated supply chain was the top major challenge they are facing now. Manitoba Agriculture wants to help.

Manitoba Agriculture's Value Added Branch, along with Supply Chain Canada and Supply Chain Manitoba, are hosting an exclusive event to bring together experts and professionals from the agri-food value chain to discuss challenges, opportunities and innovative solutions in supply chain management.  Logistics discussion will focus on moving goods within Manitoba and beyond our provincial borders within Canada, and will include transportation, warehousing, distribution and fulfillment.

We need to hear from you to learn what supply chain challenges you are experiencing. Join us at a Supply Chain Focus Group in-person on Tuesday, January 28, and a virtual event on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Click here for details and to register.

                                                                            Webinar Series - How to Grow your Food Processing Business Beyond Manitoba's Borders

Are you ready to expand your food and beverage manufacturing sales across Canada? 

Exporting isn't just a business strategy - it's a game-changer that can propel your company to unprecedented success. If you want to do it right, you need to plan and execute a clear and achievable market strategy. Manitoba Agriculture, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other experts are here to help, starting with a valuable free webinar series.

The series consists of five highly focused webinars that will run from 11:00 a.m. to noon every Thursday beginning January 23 until February 20, 2025. Key topics covered include:

  • Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCRs) requirements
  • How to develop a preventive control plan (PCP)
  • Logistics and fulfillment within Canada
  • How to develop a pricing and promotional strategy to drive sales velocity at retail stores
  • How to develop an interprovincial trade strategy

Invest in yourself and the success of your company! Email mbagrifood@gov.mb.ca or call 204-871-5015 to register.

                                                                           Food Ingredient and Product Directory App

Check out Manitoba Agriculture's new user-friendly interactive Food Ingredient and Product Directory App.  The directory is designed to build awareness of Manitoba food and beverage manufacturers and brand owner's food ingredients and products, and make it easier and more efficient for local, domestic and international buyers to identify and source Manitoba food ingredients and products.

If you are a Manitoba food and beverage manufacturer or brand owner and you would like to have your company and products added to the directory for free, contact Manitoba Agriculture at mbagrifood@gov.mb.ca . 

                                                                           Business Pathways Information Circular

The Value Added Branch of Manitoba Agriculture is bringing you up-to-date food processing and business information. This information circular will provide information on financial and non-financial programs, events and training opportunities, market access information, business, marketing and food safety resources and links to relevant news stories.

Previous issues can be viewed here.

To subscribe, email mbagrifood@gov.mb.ca.

                                                                           Manitoba's Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP)

The Capital Infrastructure and Investments program supports the growth and expansion of Manitoba's agri-processing sector by assisting with capital investment purchases for modernization and capacity building activities.

The Market Development program provides financial assistance for market development activities that enhance interprovincial trade and export capacity and improve trade access for the sector.

The Sustainable Agri-Processing program provides funding to support the sustainability of Manitoba's agri-processing sector by assisting with studies and capital investment purchases that contribute energy saving and Green House Gas (GHG) reduction, optimization of agri-inputs, reduction of water use and clarification of waste water, and the conversion of by-products and waste products to alternative value-added applications.

You can keep up to date with the SCAP programs and dates here and by signing up to receive Manitoba Agriculture's newsletter for notification of intake dates by clicking here.

                                                                           Sustainable CAP Webinars 

Learn about program eligibility, funding streams, cost share amounts, program details and writing your application at the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) playlist. 

* La traduction française sous-titrée est disponible par YouTube