Investment
Alberta offers excellent opportunities and advantages for new food and agricultural processing ventures. Strength in the industry has prompted food and beverage companies to make major investments in Alberta. In the past 5 years, over $1 billion has been invested by top food processing companies in the world.
Investors in Alberta's agri-food processing industry enjoy favourable conditions unique to our province. The province is strategically located to deliver goods quickly and inexpensively. With effective road, rail, and air links to markets, Alberta has become a major distribution centre. Goods are shipped to Western Canada and the rapidly expanding markets in the pacific and northwestern United States, as well as Pacific Asia and the Russian Far East.
Alberta's extensive network of research and development facilities help develop and commercialize products and processes. Agricultural research has resulted in better production methods, new crop varieties, and the largest, most varied genetic pool of breeding livestock in the world. Funding agencies that support agri-food research include the Alberta Agricultural Research Institute and the Alberta Value Added Corporation.
Export Oriented
Alberta's food and beverage industry is export oriented and has a worldwide reputation for quality products. The United States remains the largest export market for Alberta's processed foods, feed and beverage products, purchasing over 78% of the provinces exports of these products in 1999. The Pacific Rim is also rapidly becoming an important foreign market for Alberta's food products.
Agriculture into the future
The rapidly changing global economy is creating many new opportunities for Alberta's agri-food industry. Trade agreements, modern technology, transportation, and sophisticated communications systems are resulting in greater international access to goods and services. The demand for food and other agricultural products will increase as populations rise. The Year 2000 recorded more than 6 billion people worldwide, with the world population figure expected to reach 8.1 billion by 2025.
World trade in agricultural products is continuing to grow. Demand is shifting dramatically from bulk commodities to consumer ready foods. Value-added products and niche markets are anticipated to grow rapidly. Markets for new products including functional foods, food ingredients, and industrial and other non-food uses are also expected to grow. Environmental issues are becoming increasingly important and there is a market differentiation for clean, wholesome, and safe products:
Services for People Investing in Agriculture
The investment development branch provides information and assistance to companies and investors considering capital investment or expansion in Alberta's agri-food processing industry.
Please contact us for:
- information on investment opportunities and the advantages of doing business in Alberta
- assistance if you are seeking alliance partners, joint ventures, or sources of capital
- coordination of your Alberta visit to meet with government and private company representatives
- information and analysis for emerging investment projects at various stages of planning and development
Alberta has many resources that can assist you in the development of an agri-food business. If you are interested in exploring some of the many potential processing opportunities in Alberta, please contact:
Ron Popek, Executive Director, Rural Development
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry
