CPFC project helping ag industry access markets

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Heather Cameron
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Paloma Navarro, the Industry Engagement Coordinator for Canada’s Premier Food Corridor, describes the Canada’s Premier Food Corridor (CPFC) project as ‘a collaboration of five municipalities and economic development organizations working together to advance and support the agri-food industry in Southern Alberta through Investment Attraction (IA) and Business Retention and Expansion (BRE).’

The corridor, Navarro says, is 50 km long and includes the City of Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, the Town of Coaldale, the M.D. of Taber, and the Town of Taber, and focuses on, but isn’t limited to, Highway 3, a main transportation corridor, both road and rail.

Canada’s Premier Food Corridor (CPFC) project, Navarro says, began back in September 2023 and is expected to last until 2026. The communities involved in the corridor, Navarro says, all provide annual financial contributions to support this Initiative, and the project has two dedicated staff members, Sandra Dufresne, the Cluster Development Manager who focuses on investment attraction; and Paloma Navarro, the Industry Engagement Coordinator who supports business retention and expansion and workforce development efforts. In addition to the two full-time staff members, Navarro says, leadership from Economic Development Lethbridge and representatives from the municipalities actively work together on the project.

Navarro says in 2018,the five municipalities currently involved in the project recognized the advantages of coordinating efforts to attract new investment in the agri-food industry.

“They knew that instead of competing, this group could better compete for new investment,” said Navarro.

From 2020 to September 2023, Navarro says, the Canada’s Premier Food Corridor (CPFC) has been a strong foundation of collaboration and trust among its partners, and examples of that collaboration include attendance at Bridge-2-Food Summits, Plant Forward Toronto, Brighter Together Food Journey, participation in panel discussions as a group, joint promotion and collaboration for workshops (i.e. Fractionation). Navarro says that the Needs Assessment took place from September to December 2023, the promotional travel, which expanded the market exposure, took place from January to June 2024; ongoing travel to target markets, evaluating and advancing work with investment leads, and active progress with six investment files took place from June to December 2024. The BRE Workforce Needs Assessment, meanwhile, took place from October to December 2023, a Strategy and Action Plan was addressed from January to March 2024, BRE-Workforce Officers Development was addressed from April to August 2024, and Strategy Implementation was started in September 2024 and is expected to progress until December 2025.

“Funding for the project is secured until 2026,” said Navarro. “This three-year initiative aims to establish a foundation for ongoing cluster development by identifying a sustainable funding model that ensures the initiative’s continuity without relying solely on government funding. Funding, which comes from all three levels of government, is $1.5 million over the three years.”

Navarro says that all five municipalities benefit by the exposure they receive from being part of the project.

“Having dedicated staff to support the Agri-Food sector in the CPFC region enables local municipalities to increase exposure and promote the region with a united voice,” said Navarro. “It also enhances access to business resources and support for both existing businesses and new ventures. All the partners are pleased with the project and see tremendous value for their financial commitment.”

Navarro is ‘hopeful’ that Canada’s Premier Food Corridor’s work will continue beyond the current funding cycle. 

“We are exploring various funding models to ensure the project maintains momentum and continues to thrive,” said Navarro.