October 2005

About MAFRI

Agri-Food and Rural Development Division  

GO Teams

The GO Teams Branch focuses on building vibrant rural communities by encouraging and supporting the sustainable development of Manitoba’s agricultural and food sector while maintaining a healthy rural and northern landscape. Through rural-based delivery of programs and services, the GO Teams Branch assists farm and rural families with enhancing their knowledge and skills in leadership and management, marketing, sustainable production, adding value, diversification and economic development options, within a sustainable agriculture and community framework. The Branch strives to increase public awareness of the importance and contribution of the agriculture and agri-food industry to the province’s economy.

Economic Development Initiatives

The Economic Development Initiatives Branch is responsible for the management of the Rural Economic Development Initiatives (REDI), which re-invests video lottery revenue back into rural and northern Manitoba to promote economic development for diversification and long term sustainability. REDI programs and funds enhance business and co-operative development, create opportunities for youth, support industry and help rural communities and organizations to address priorities and needs, thereby stabilizing populations, municipal tax revenues and quality of life. REDI programming includes Feasibility Studies, the Community Works Loan Program, Rural Entrepreneur Assistance, the CED Tax Credit Program, the Hometown Manitoba Program, Community Adjustment Assistance and several youth programs. 

Economy and Rural Development

The Economy and Rural Development Branch provides support to the development of human and community capacity to renew and to transform farms and rural and northern Manitoba communities into vibrant and sustainable regions. The Branch increases the prevalence of value-added processing, grows businesses and provides economic development opportunities in rural and northern Manitoba. The Economy and Rural Development Branch also fosters the development of co-operative enterprises in rural, northern and urban Manitoba. The Branch facilitates collaboration and builds partnerships among farm and rural economic development stakeholders.

Food Development Centre

The Food Development Centre (FDC) is a special operating agency of the Department. FDC provides up-to-date information to the agri-food industry, education and training to industry through seminars and workshops, and conducts product and process development projects on a fee-for-service basis. FDC provides commercial and federally accredited pilot plant services for the production of safe, high quality and wholesome food products and a unique liquid food processing and packaging facility through a partnership with Great Plains Aseptic Processors (GPAP). FDC facilitates the participation of Manitoba entrepreneurs in the value-added processing of agri-food commodities, while at the same time exploring new markets for local agricultural products focusing on meats, vegetables, fruits, grains and oilseeds. 

Food Commercialization and Marketing

The Food Commercialization and Marketing Branch works in partnership with the agri-food industry, developing strategies that focus on commercialization and market development of value-added food products. The Branch strives to increase the opportunities for commercialization of Manitoba-grown products through industry-driven activities, market-oriented resource materials and participation in market development events. The Branch participates in incoming and outgoing trade missions and tradeshows aimed at encouraging sales and investment in Manitoba’s agricultural industry, products and services. The Food Commercialization and Marketing Branch provides resource materials, market intelligence and information to achieve effective market development initiatives.

Agricultural Crown Lands

The Agricultural Crown Lands Branch administers Crown lands classified for agricultural use that include long-term forage and cropping leases, permits and lands management; represents agricultural interests in the assessment of agricultural Crown lands for multi-resource use; and works in co-operation with extension services to assist clients in improving their forage productivity.