source: Farm and Food Report
The Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) Committee of the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development (SCCD) is providing $151,450 towards a new program designed specifically for the needs of food manufacturers.
The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based technician certificate program is being developed and delivered by the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc.
The funding is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program, a five-year, $240 million program designed to allow Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector to capture new opportunities. Saskatchewan’s ACAAF share of $16.1 million is delivered by the ACAAFS Committee of the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development Inc.
“This is an innovative solution for Saskatchewan companies that are pursuing HACCP implementation in their facilities,” Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. “The Food Centre continues to be a leader in developing programming to assist provincial food processing companies in accessing export markets.”
Food safety, traceability and product origin are top of mind for industry, government and consumers. Market-driven retailers will require processors to retain in-house programs for food safety based on recognized and regulated programs, such as HACCP. Currently in Canada, no other program offers training for HACCP technicians at this level and combines both practical and technical training components in one program.
The HACCP Diploma Program consists of five phases: Needs Assessment Program; Development of a HACCP Diploma Program; Program Development Assistance for Manufacturers; Food Centre HACCP Recognition Program; and In-House Training and Technical Assistance On-Site for HACCP System Maintenance.
“In Saskatchewan, it has been difficult for small to medium-sized entrepreneurs to retain qualified personnel to develop and implement HACCP programs,” said the President of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, Dan Prefontaine. “Technically trained HACCP individuals will now be available to rural based processing facilities specifically for the purpose of maintaining HACCP based programming. In the long term, this could be the key to market access and business expansion into export markets.”
“The ACAAFS Committee is pleased to be providing funding towards this project,” ACAAFS Chairman Louis Hradecki said. “This project complements the Food Safety and Quality pillar of the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), and is an excellent example of a Saskatchewan-based organization taking the lead to fill a current gap in the food processing industry.”
The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1998 as a joint partnership between the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre's mission is to assist in the development and continued growth of a dynamic food-processing sector by providing an extensive understanding of markets and support mechanisms for technology and human resource development.
For more information, contact:
Scott Brown
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
787-4031
Dan Prefontaine, President
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre
933-7555
Laurie Dmytryshyn, ACAAFS Manager
Saskatchewan Council for Community Development
975-6849
The Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) Committee of the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development (SCCD) is providing $151,450 towards a new program designed specifically for the needs of food manufacturers.
The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based technician certificate program is being developed and delivered by the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc.
The funding is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program, a five-year, $240 million program designed to allow Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector to capture new opportunities. Saskatchewan’s ACAAF share of $16.1 million is delivered by the ACAAFS Committee of the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development Inc.
“This is an innovative solution for Saskatchewan companies that are pursuing HACCP implementation in their facilities,” Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. “The Food Centre continues to be a leader in developing programming to assist provincial food processing companies in accessing export markets.”
Food safety, traceability and product origin are top of mind for industry, government and consumers. Market-driven retailers will require processors to retain in-house programs for food safety based on recognized and regulated programs, such as HACCP. Currently in Canada, no other program offers training for HACCP technicians at this level and combines both practical and technical training components in one program.
The HACCP Diploma Program consists of five phases: Needs Assessment Program; Development of a HACCP Diploma Program; Program Development Assistance for Manufacturers; Food Centre HACCP Recognition Program; and In-House Training and Technical Assistance On-Site for HACCP System Maintenance.
“In Saskatchewan, it has been difficult for small to medium-sized entrepreneurs to retain qualified personnel to develop and implement HACCP programs,” said the President of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, Dan Prefontaine. “Technically trained HACCP individuals will now be available to rural based processing facilities specifically for the purpose of maintaining HACCP based programming. In the long term, this could be the key to market access and business expansion into export markets.”
“The ACAAFS Committee is pleased to be providing funding towards this project,” ACAAFS Chairman Louis Hradecki said. “This project complements the Food Safety and Quality pillar of the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), and is an excellent example of a Saskatchewan-based organization taking the lead to fill a current gap in the food processing industry.”
The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1998 as a joint partnership between the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre's mission is to assist in the development and continued growth of a dynamic food-processing sector by providing an extensive understanding of markets and support mechanisms for technology and human resource development.
For more information, contact:
Scott Brown
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
787-4031
Dan Prefontaine, President
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre
933-7555
Laurie Dmytryshyn, ACAAFS Manager
Saskatchewan Council for Community Development
975-6849
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