Quebec City, Québec – Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz and Quebec Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food François Gendron are pleased to announce that Brome Lake Ducks has been granted $300,000 for a new slaughter and defeathering line. This financial assistance, which is being provided under the Support Program for Sectoral Development Strategies, is associated with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Agricultural Flexibility Fund.
The new slaughter and defeathering line is intended for palmipedes. The facility will be available to all businesses raising poultry, thereby improving the industry’s competitiveness. This sector-wide project will help optimize processing, facilitate waste management, improve energy efficiency, and stimulate innovation by contributing to the development and commercialization of new products.
“Through the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada is proud to support Quebec’s agri-food sector by making strategic investments that stimulate innovation and economic growth. A world-renowned, century-old company, Brome Lake Ducks is a leader in its sector, and this new equipment will enable the industry to remain competitive in the market,” said Minister Ritz.
“I would like to commend Brome Lake Ducks for its strong sense of innovation. The company has developed a promising project for the entire duck production and processing industry. This dynamic sector is one of the finest examples of the Quebec bio-food industry, and this is why we are supporting the Brome Lake Ducks initiative, which aligns with the food sovereignty policy that we unveiled last spring,” said Minister Gendron.
The Support Program for Sector Development Strategies was announced by the governments of Canada and Quebec on March 25, 2011. The program provides $16.7 million over four years to help agri-food activity sectors adapt and thrive in a competitive and constantly changing business environment.
For a full description of the Support Program for Sectoral Development Strategies (in French only), visit the website of the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/strategiessectorielles. For more information on the Food Sovereignty Policy (in French only), regularly visit the blog devoted to the policy (www.PolitiqueSA.gouv.qc.ca) or the website of the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (in French only) (www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/PolitiqueSA). The Department can also be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/mapaquebec.
Source: Agriculture and Agri Food Canada
