Saskatchewan Liberal MP, Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness was in Regina on Friday to announce funding for the value added agri-food industry in Regina.

Goodale announced $250 thousand in funding for Economic Development Regina (EDR) to implement a regional strategy to add value to the agri-foods industry in and around the city.

“As economies change around the world, as dietary patterns change the demand for plant protein and the potential for new products, new technologies, new marketing opportunities worldwide is going to grow exponentially. Somebody’s going to grab that market, there’s no reason in the world why it shouldn’t be Saskatchewan and Western Canada.”

Goodale says the initiative, led by Economic Development Regina with File Hills Qu’Appelle Developments and industry partners, will create new business opportunities and employment by building on the strengths of our world-leading agri-food sector and leveraging investments such as the Protein Industries Canada supercluster.”

The money comes through the Western Diversification Program and will allow EDR to work with File Hills Qu’Appelle Developments to identify agri-value assets of Indigenous communities throughout Treaty Four Territory.

EDR has set targets for the strategy to create or expand 16 companies and assist an additional 30 small- and medium-sized enterprises.