source: Farm and Food Report
What does it take to create agriculture industry networks made up of partners who look after each other’s interests?
A little mutual understanding; a desire to work collaboratively; and a genuine belief that, by doing everything possible to remove barriers to efficiencies, every network member will assist each other in their success.
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization just launched a new initiative that aims to assist potential partners in doing just that. The new provincial Value Chain Program will help diversify and grow Saskatchewan’s agricultural economy, by funding and providing technical expertise to encourage individuals and businesses to work together with these goals in mind. The program budget is $1.5 million over the next three years.
The Value Chain Program encourages co-operation, communication and co-ordination between three or more organizations or businesses from the following groups: producers, processors, distributors, brokers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. By working together, members of the network can build their competitive advantage, identify sustainable marketing opportunities and improve their response to market demand. This network is known as a value chain.
“Growing, diversifying and adding value to our agricultural sector is a priority for our province,” Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. “Programs like this one support individuals and businesses in their efforts to add value to our agricultural products. This will have a spin-off effect that will benefit all sectors of our economy.”
The ValueChain Program helps partners work together to identify objectives, share risks and benefits — and share their investment in time, energy and resources to make the relationship work. The benefit of these partnerships is a competitive advantage for every member of the value chain.
“Our value chain enabled us to establish the type of rapport with several chain partners that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise,” Canadian Prairie Lamb President Gordon Schroeder said. “We are a common alliance dedicated to finding new consumers for lamb products.”
To qualify under the program, projects must involve the development of a value chain, and of one or more specific activities. These would include the differentiation of products in the marketplace; efforts to reduce system costs; initiatives that aim to build, establish or enhance food safety or quality assurance; or the formulation of a response to a specific consumer demand through a new product.
Each project will be eligible for funding up to a maximum of $100,000.
Specialists at any of the nine Agriculture Business Centres around the province can help clients explore ideas, answer questions and apply for funding. Just call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 to find out how to take advantage of this new agri-business resource.
The Value Chain Program is part of the Food Safety and Quality Chapter of the federal/provincial Agricultural Policy Framework.
For more information, contact:
Sherri Dobbs
Market development and Food Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306)787-8537
Gordon Schroeder
Canadian Prairie Lamb
(306) 933-5582
What does it take to create agriculture industry networks made up of partners who look after each other’s interests?
A little mutual understanding; a desire to work collaboratively; and a genuine belief that, by doing everything possible to remove barriers to efficiencies, every network member will assist each other in their success.
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization just launched a new initiative that aims to assist potential partners in doing just that. The new provincial Value Chain Program will help diversify and grow Saskatchewan’s agricultural economy, by funding and providing technical expertise to encourage individuals and businesses to work together with these goals in mind. The program budget is $1.5 million over the next three years.
The Value Chain Program encourages co-operation, communication and co-ordination between three or more organizations or businesses from the following groups: producers, processors, distributors, brokers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. By working together, members of the network can build their competitive advantage, identify sustainable marketing opportunities and improve their response to market demand. This network is known as a value chain.
“Growing, diversifying and adding value to our agricultural sector is a priority for our province,” Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. “Programs like this one support individuals and businesses in their efforts to add value to our agricultural products. This will have a spin-off effect that will benefit all sectors of our economy.”
The ValueChain Program helps partners work together to identify objectives, share risks and benefits — and share their investment in time, energy and resources to make the relationship work. The benefit of these partnerships is a competitive advantage for every member of the value chain.
“Our value chain enabled us to establish the type of rapport with several chain partners that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise,” Canadian Prairie Lamb President Gordon Schroeder said. “We are a common alliance dedicated to finding new consumers for lamb products.”
To qualify under the program, projects must involve the development of a value chain, and of one or more specific activities. These would include the differentiation of products in the marketplace; efforts to reduce system costs; initiatives that aim to build, establish or enhance food safety or quality assurance; or the formulation of a response to a specific consumer demand through a new product.
Each project will be eligible for funding up to a maximum of $100,000.
Specialists at any of the nine Agriculture Business Centres around the province can help clients explore ideas, answer questions and apply for funding. Just call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 to find out how to take advantage of this new agri-business resource.
The Value Chain Program is part of the Food Safety and Quality Chapter of the federal/provincial Agricultural Policy Framework.
For more information, contact:
Sherri Dobbs
Market development and Food Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306)787-8537
Gordon Schroeder
Canadian Prairie Lamb
(306) 933-5582
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