District abattoir receives award for innovation

News Release
Ont. Govt.

Ontario’s rural communities are growing innovative ideas that drive the local economy and advance Ontario’s agri-food industry.
These ideas were celebrated today at a ceremony in Thunder Bay honouring regional winners
of the Premier’s Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. Local recipients are:
-Mountain Fresh Farm, Kakabeka Falls (Thunder Bay District)
-Rainy River District Regional Abattoir Inc., Emo (Rainy River District)
These awards are part of a $2.5-million, five-year program established to recognize innovators who contribute to the success of Ontario’s agri-food sector.
“I am pleased to recognize these local innovators with these awards. Their vision and hard work show us how integral our agri-food sector and our rural communities are to this province,: Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North.
“Today’s award winners show how innovation continues to strengthen agriculture, which is such an important contributor to Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario,” Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan.
There are 55 regional award winners across the province — each receiving $5,000 for their innovations.
The Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program has attracted more than 700 applications highlighting on-farm innovations since 2007.
Rainy River District Regional Abattoir Inc. – Emo
A group of forward-thinking farmers from this area have established Ontario’s only not-for-profit abattoir for the region. They took a hands-on approach, planning and managing the construction and operation of the $2 million dollar facility which opened in January 2010. The abattoir can process beef, pork, sheep, elk and bison, and its handling system includes an ear tag reader that enhances food traceability. Now that the region has its own facility, it eliminates the need for livestock to be transported up to six hours away for processing. The abattoir has been designed so that it can be easily upgraded in the future to a federal facility, which will enable broader product sales as demand increases. Local producers see this innovative approach as a boon for agricultural sustainability in the region.