The Canadian and Manitoba governments are collectively investing to support Manitoba’s hemp industry with a $390,000 investment in Hemp Oil Canada Inc. (HOCI).

 

The investment is being made through the country’s Growing Forward 2 program, a federal-provincial partnership formed to support innovation, competitiveness, and profitability in Canada’s agricultural sector.

 

HOCI will use the financing to install new sorters and packaging systems that will improve food safety and modernization at its new processing facility in Ste. Agathe, while helping the company remain competitive in the global hemp seed industry.

 

“Funding from Growing Forward 2 will allow us to take the next leap forward in providing the highest quality hemp food products in the marketplace,” said Shaun Crew, president and CEO of HOCI in a release. “We are excited to continuously improve upon our manufacturing processes by adopting these technologies that will lead to industry leading quality assurance and efficiencies in hemp food manufacturing.”

 

Continued growth in the industry led to Canada exported more than $50 million worth of hemp products in 2014 according to data from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

 

Commenting on the investment, Ron Kostyshyn, Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister for Manitoba stated, “Manitoba’s hemp industry continues to expand, creating new opportunities for farmers, processors and many other stakeholders. Hemp is a healthy and nutritious choice, and this is driving consumer demand here at home and around the world.”