July 6, 2015
Governments Invest in New Equipment to Support Manitoba's Hemp Seed Industry
The Canada and Manitoba governments will invest in new equipment to support the growth of the hemp seed processing industry, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn and Ted Falk, Member of Parliament for Provencher, announced today.
“Manitoba’s hemp industry continues to expand, creating new opportunities for farmers, processors and many other stakeholders,” said Minister Kostyshyn. “Hemp is a healthy and nutritious choice, and this is driving consumer demand here at home and around the world. We are pleased to invest in this new equipment with HOCI, as it will increase efficiency and support their ongoing commitment to food safety.”
Governments will provide nearly $390,000 to Hemp Oil Canada Inc. (HOCI) to purchase and install a new optical sorter and packaging system at its new processing facility in Ste. Agathe. The equipment will modernize the packing line, improve food safety and ensure the company can remain competitive in the international hemp seed market.
“Our Government is pleased to see the growth of Manitoba’s agriculture industry,” said MP Falk. “This investment will create new opportunities for hemp producers and processors to expand their markets and sell their products across Canada and around the world.”
HOCI is the largest hemp seed wholesaler in North America, with annual sales of more than $25 million. The company employs 30 full-time staff and purchases 10 million pounds of hemp from prairie farmers every year. The new facility is expected to open in summer 2015 and help create 10 new jobs.
“Funding from Growing Forward 2 will allow us to take the next leap forward in providing the highest quality hemp food products in the marketplace,” said Shaun Crew, president and CEO of HOCI. “We are excited to continuously improve upon our manufacturing processes by adopting these technologies that will lead to industry leading quality assurance and efficiencies in hemp food manufacturing.”
Government funding represents 50 per cent of the cost of the new equipment.
The Growing Forward 2 - Growing Value program provides financial assistance to existing agri-businesses that need to make changes to adapt to market forces and environmental considerations, to increase their ability to compete in domestic and international markets.
The federal and provincial governments are investing $176 million in Manitoba under Growing Forward 2, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial policy framework to advance the agriculture industry, helping producers and processors become more innovative and competitive in world markets.
Minister Kostyshyn noted this investment also supports the Manitoba government’s goal of creating a $5.5-billion food-processing industry by 2022.
To learn more about HOCI and hemp products, visit www.hempoilcan.com.
For more information on Manitoba’s agricultural programs and services, follow the Twitter account at www.twitter.com/MBGovAg.
- 30 -