Ontario's maple syrup producers can now tap into a new fund that will support their efforts to grow their operations.
The Maple Production Improvement Initiative opened to submissions on November 9. It’s an initiative of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a joint program of the federal and provincial governments.
“The Maple Production Improvement Initiative is a great opportunity for Ontario maple syrup producers looking to scale up their operations,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said in a news release.
“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.”
Under the program, producers can receive up to 50 per cent cost-share funding for eligible costs, to a maximum of $20,000 per project.
Among the eligibility criteria, producers must have had a minimum of 1,000 taps in operation as of April 1, 2023 to qualify.
According to the province, maple syrup production contributed nearly $42 million to Ontario’s gross domestic product in 2022, and the industry supports more than 1,000 jobs.
Details about eligibility criteria and the application process are available here.
