BC’s food industry gains access to funding for traceability upgrades

British Columbia’s producers, food processors and seafood businesses now have access to new funding to improve product tracing, meet consumer demands, and ensure public health safety.

Through the Traceability Adoption Program (TAP), these businesses can get financial support to upgrade their tracking systems. Through the program, they can purchase and install software and hardware, such as databases, barcode readers, label printers and other devices that help make product tracing more efficient and reliable. They can also hire experts who can support their businesses to effectively implement traceability systems in their facilities.

For example, B.C. producers and food processors can use the funding to switch from manual to computer-generated labelling, which saves time and increases quality control.

B.C. ranchers and abattoirs can purchase and install approved radio frequency identification (known as RFID) tag readers that track the movement of animals and other food products wherever they may be in the supply chain to help reduce administrative burden and streamline livestock operations.

The funding is part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5-billion investment over five years (April 1, 2023, until March 31, 2028) to strengthen the agriculture sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programs and activities that are funded 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially or territorially.

In B.C., up to $530,000 is available through TAP, with individual applicants eligible for up to $20,000. The program is managed by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC and is open for applications starting May 9, 2024.