Ontario Helping Farmers and Agri-Food Businesses Reduce Greenhouse Gas Pollution

GTA Weekly
Chris Ballard Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

Province’s Carbon Market Providing Funding for Money-Saving Upgrades

Ontario is supporting farmers and agri-food businesses to improve their energy efficiency, save money and fight climate change through two new programs from the Green Ontario Fund, a non-profit provincial agency funded by proceeds from the province’s cap on pollution and carbon market.Chris Ballard, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, was joined today by Parminder Sandhu, Green Ontario Fund board chair and Interim CEO, and Dr. Helena Jaczek, MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham, to announce the launch of the  GreenON Agriculture and GreenON Food Manufacturing programs.

GreenON Agriculture will provide funding to help improve energy efficiency in climate-controlled production facilities such as swine or poultry barns, greenhouses and grain dryers. Improvements include new or upgraded energy curtains and cover materials in greenhouses and building insulation in walls and ceilings of livestock facilities.

GreenON Food Manufacturing will help encourage food and beverage processing facilities to adopt innovative, cleaner technologies, with opportunities for low-carbon fuel use, waste heat recovery, improved air balance and upgraded refrigeration systems.

Supporting farmers and agri-food businesses in the transition to a low carbon economy is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

Quick Facts

  • Ontario is investing $7.25 million in GreenON Agriculture and $3.75 million in GreenON Food Manufacturing.
  • Businesses and farmers interested in applying for funding from these programs can visit GreenON.ca.
  • The Green Ontario Fund offers programs and rebates that help households and businesses reduce their energy costs and fight climate change. Visit GreenON.ca to find out how small – or big – changes in your home can help save money while reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
  • The Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market are the backbone of Ontario’s strategy to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.

Additional Resources

Quotes

“Supporting Ontario’s farmers and food and beverage businesses with their efforts to transition to low-carbon operations helps reduce harmful pollution from our environment. These upgrades are made possible through capping the greenhouse gas pollution businesses can emit and investing the proceeds from our carbon market, through the Climate Change Action Plan, into projects that reduce harmful emissions and make life better for Ontario residents.”

Chris Ballard

Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

Jeff Leal

“A competitive and sustainable agri-food sector is vital to Ontario’s economy. Helping our province’s covered agriculture and food and beverage processing sectors transition to a low-carbon economy will help ensure their long-term sustainability while supporting Ontario’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Jeff Leal

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Dr. Helena Jaczek

“I’m very pleased to see that agricultural facilities such as King Cole Ducks in my riding of Oak Ridges –Markham will be able to access a program that helps to save money on their energy costs and join the fight against climate change. Supporting Ontario’s food production is key to ensuring we have a strong economy in which everyone plays their part in creating a cleaner, healthier Ontario.”

Dr. Helena Jaczek

MPP, Oak Ridges-Markham

“Agriculture is an important driver of Ontario’s economy. By enabling farmers and food manufacturers to adopt clean technologies, GreenON will help them become more competitive, more efficient, and stronger contributors to a sustainable future for all Ontarians.”

Parminder Sandhu

Chair of the Green Ontario Fund board of directors and Interim CEO

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