By Alice McFarlane

Saskatchewan’s food processing facility will be expanding

May 4, 2021 | 3:17 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre will be expanding its operation to provide support to the provinces value-added sector.

The centre, located in Saskatoon, Sask., is the province’s only commercial incubation centre for food processing and helps assist food processors value add their products and prepare them for market.

Currently the first phase added 12,200 square feet at the site of the Agri-Food Innovation Centre. The new expansion will consist of additional incubation suites, storage, and an extrusion commercialization suite. The second phase will include a maintenance shop and a separate facility for food and industrial processing.

The federal and provincial governments are providing $2.3 million through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP).

Food Centre President Dan Prefontaine said the vision to be a leader in Saskatchewan’s agri-food industry is stronger than ever with the new expansion.

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“The additional capacity in extrusion technology will support commercialization of Saskatchewan-grown crops in many innovative food products, specifically the plant-based protein market,” Prefontaine said. “Our new incubation suites will continue to support the growth of agri-businesses by providing options for entrepreneurs and start-up companies in the agri-food sector.”

Saskatchewan Agriculture minister David Marit said demand for the centre continues to grow. He said it particularly helpful to smaller food processing companies.

“Dan Prefontaine and his team are just doing an amazing job in helping young entrepreneurs develop new foods, new products, and get them into the commercial market, and work with them,” Marit said. “I met some young entrepreneurs that are developing product there and it is incredible what they are doing and what the food center is helping them to do.”

Marit said Saskatchewan is uniquely positioned to help meet growing global consumer demand for agri-food products.

“The expansion of the Food Centre reflects not only the growth of our value-added food and beverage processing sector in Saskatchewan, but also the Food Centre’s reputation for excellence and innovation,” Marit said.

The Food Centre is a non-profit organization that is a partnership between the Government of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association, and the University of Saskatchewan.

Since its inception in 1997, the Food Centre has served over 400 clients and assisted with the development of 885 new products.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW