The Government of Canada will invest $50 million in the food surplus purchase program. The purpose of the program is to help farmers financially, prevent food waste and support the most vulnerable members of society.
The program details and requirements will be announced in the next few days, but suffice it to say, numerous conversations have already taken place between my department and the various associations most affected by food surpluses. The idea isn't simply to purchase food. Farmers and processors with food surpluses will have to submit projects, and it will be necessary to specify where those surpluses will go. Determining which regions or organizations, which food bank associations and which northern regions will have the capacity to receive the surplus products will also be important.