Government funding announced for Ontario’s maple syrup sector

Toronto – The governments of Canada and Ontario will support productivity and growth in Ontario’s maple syrup sector by spending up to $1 million over two years through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The Maple Production Improvement Initiative will provide eligible maple syrup producers access to cost-shared funding to support a range of activities to enhance their operations. Project costs can be applied retroactively to April 1, 2023, when Sustainable CAP officially launched.

Under the Maple Production Improvement Initiative, applicants can receive up to 50 per cent cost-share funding for eligible costs, to a maximum of $20,000 per project.

Eligible businesses can apply for support through this program starting on Nov. 9, 2023. The initiative will support the purchase and installation of upgraded production equipment for eligible syrup producers, that increase productivity, efficiency and growth, such as reverse osmosis or remote monitoring systems. It will also provide funding to cover a portion of certain woodlot management activities, including tree marking and the development of a forest plan, to assist the operation of eligible businesses.

To be eligible, applicants must have a minimum of 1,000 taps in operation, as of April 1, 2023, and meet other criteria.

“Ontario’s maple syrup producers continue to deliver exceptional products that are enjoyed here in Canada, and around the world,” said Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of sgriculture and sgri-Food. “This initiative is an investment in future growth,and will bring more operational efficiency to the sector.”

Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion funding initiative by federal‐provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.