July 10th, 2015

How can your food processing business remain competitive in today’s market? With thousands of products on today’s shelves, making yours stand out is no easy task. This is where Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Industrial Program, established through the Canada Food Research and Development Centre (FRDC), can help. The FRDC is Canada’s largest food processing centre, equipped with the tools to make Canadian food processors even better.

The Industrial Program assists agri-food companies with small-scale food processing and testing. They also help these companies foster innovations in food research.

What Does the FRDC provide?

Located in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, clients have access to state-of-the-art equipment in a flexible and versatile food-processing environment. The centre has support from knowledgeable technologists who have a background in a wide range of food processing industries. Clients across the food-processing spectrum benefit from the FRDC’s input, suggestions, and constructive feedback to help make their companies the best that they can be.

What are the Benefits of the Industrial Program?

The Industrial Program encourages food-processing companies of any size to come use this resource. There are costs to use the FRDC facility, but the benefits of such an investment are usually well worthwhile.

Starting a new business is a difficult task because many expenses involved with start up. The Industrial Program makes it possible for some businesses to exist in the first place. Established businesses also benefit from the FRDC. Clients establish a series of pilot projects which helps them better address the needs of their consumer base.

How Does the FRDC Work?

The FRDC supplies all of the equipment that a company would be expected to require. They have everything from frozen meat shredders to packaging machines, evaporators, ovens, fryers, smoke houses, curd mills, grain cleaners, cheese vats, fermentation units, and ice cream freezers (with almost anything in between).

The Industrial Program recognizes the various dynamics of different companies, and as such, their equipment is adaptable, and can be moved and even modified according to respective needs.

Companies typically do not have expandable income to risk on a new machine or a new process. The FRDC allows these companies to experiment with a variety of different methods and products to find what works best for them. They stabilize these batches or methods to produce them in large enough quantities.

Over time, these businesses can find their own autonomy and perform these processes themselves. The Industrial Program simply provides them the impetus to get started, which led to the following list of new or improved products. Consider adding your product to this list today!

Alongside research and development, the Industrial Program also allows food processors to get their product onto the market for a reduced cost. The Program’s design aids processors in assessing market potential to help them avoid allocating finances to unnecessary areas.

The Industrial Program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada helps promote competitiveness in Canada’s food processing sector. Food processing companies often increase their relevance in both local and global markets by participating in this program. Several government grants for food processors exist that can help establish and grow a food processing company. Get in touch with as at INAC today, and we can show you how the Industrial Program is worth your investment.