The governments of Canada and Manitoba are celebrating the 12th annual Farm and Food Awareness Week from Sept. 20 to 25, an opportunity for Manitobans to learn where their food comes from and recognize the work local producers do to bring safe, healthy food from farm to table.

“Farm and Food Awareness Week is an opportunity to recognize the farmers, producers and food workers who help put safe, high-quality food on our tables every day,” said federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald. “The Government of Canada is proud to work with Manitoba and partners across the country to support a strong, resilient, and innovative food system, and agriculture and agri-food sector.”

This year’s theme, “Community and Agriculture: Growing Together,” recognizes the important connections between agriculture and communities.

“Farm and Food Awareness Week is a chance to celebrate the people who grow and produce our food and the communities that support them,” said Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn. “Agriculture is an important part of Manitoba’s economy and our communities, and choosing local food helps strengthen those connections.”

Farm and Food Awareness Week activities include:

  • Discover Agriculture on the Farm, a free, family-friendly event at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre, on Sept. 20. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits and learn more about Manitoba agriculture and where their food comes from. Harvest Manitoba will also be onsite, collecting non-perishable items in support of local food security. More information is available at discoverag.ca.
  • Local Food Day proclaimed on Sept. 23 in partnership with the Manitoba Association of Home Economists to celebrate Manitoba farmers, local ingredients and the role local food plays in supporting families and communities.

In support of agriculture awareness, the governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $260,000 through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to support seasons 37 and 38 of the digital and broadcast series Great Tastes of Manitoba, which connects Manitobans with food grown and produced in the province.

The Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports agri-food and agri-products sectors. It includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

The Manitoba government has also formalized a five-year strategic framework to strengthen co-operation across agriculture, research and agri-food innovation with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Food. As Europe’s largest food innovation community with over 200 partners dedicated to accelerating innovation and business creation in the food sector, EIT Food leverages Horizon Europe funding program (€95-billion budget for 2021-27) to enable and advance innovation and entrepreneurship across the food value chain in Europe and internationally.

The agreement brings together EIT Food’s European agri-food innovation ecosystem and international collaboration network with Manitoba’s strengths in agri-food production, value-added processing, applied research and industry-academia partnerships.

Through this framework, EIT Food and Manitoba Agriculture will explore opportunities for joint research and innovation, knowledge exchange, startup development and international market access to support the growth and competitiveness of Manitoba’s agri-food sector.