Seafood Accelerator Program
Perennia’s Seafood Accelerator Program supports Nova Scotia-based seafood companies in adaping to the changing demands of today’s markets by developing new value-added products, ensuring current seafood products meet customer expectations, developing and implementing comprehensive food safety programs to comply with regulatory requirements and gaining access to new markets.
Offered by Perennia Agriculture and Food Inc.
Amount
Up to $15,000 per fiscal year per applicant; projects cost-shared to a maximum of 50/50 (a $30,000 project would receive $15,000 in funding)
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
All relevant information must be completed on the appropriate application form when applying to allow program administrators to verify that the following requirements have been met. Applicants must:
- Be registered with Nova Scotia Joint Stocks
- If applicable, be in good standing with the Provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture; and
- Hold at least one valid:
» Nova Scotia Fish Buyers License » Nova Scotia Fish Processors License » Nova Scotia Aquaculture License » Nova Scotia Aquaculture Lease » Nova Scotia Rockweed Lease » Rockweed Harvester Permit Card » Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fishing License
- If the company does not hold a license above but intends to develop a seafood product, the processing must be done in a
Nova Scotia-based facility
- For Market Access Quality and Food Safety projects, companies must have a designated quality and food safety manager
in place.
About the funding
Funding is available to a maximum of $15,000 per fiscal year per applicant based on project scope and deliverables. The fiscal year is April 1st to March 31st. Due to caps on funding, not all applications may be funded.
Projects are cost-shared to a maximum of 50/50 with applicants (for example, a $30,000 project would receive $15,000 in funding).
FUNDING STREAM 1: QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY
The Quality and Food Safety stream assists companies in overcoming specific quality and food safety requirements or obstacles that are preventing them from entering a new market or in keeping markets open when requirements change.
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This program component will support companies with:
- Developing and implementing food safety programs
- Meeting the food safety and regulatory requirements for CFIA’s Safe Food For Canadians
- Obtaining Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification to open more export markets
- Training to build knowledge required to produce safe, high-quality products by maintaining and reassessing quality and
food safety management system Eligible Services under the Quality and Food Safety funding stream include:
- Gap assessments for specific food safety program requirements to assess what needs to be done for compliance with a
specific standard. This is a mandatory first step if seeking funding for Program Coaching.
- Program coaching of a company’s quality and food safety program manager or quality assurance staff on plan
development or revisions and implementation.
- Pre-audit assessment in preparation for a third-party audit to meet a specific food safety program standard.
- Training for all relevant personnel performing tasks that directly impact quality and food safety.
- Internal Audit of a company’s quality and food safety management system to confirm that it continues to be effective in
controlling hazards through a food safety plan, implements prerequisite programs and meets customer, regulatory, and third-party requirements.
- Consultation of a company’s quality and food safety management system in meeting requirements and overcoming
challenges.
FUNDING STREAM 2: PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
The Product Development and Technical Support stream assists companies in developing new products, improving upon existing ones and overcoming challenges impeding the production of high-quality seafood products.
This program component will support companies with:
- Accelerating the commercialization of new seafood products
- Adapting to and overcome challenges in the production of seafood products
- Gaining the knowledge required to produce high-quality seafood products
- Post-Harvest handling practices
- Fish processing techniques and technologies
- Fisheries by-product utilization
Eligible Services under the Product Development funding stream include:
Perennia offers support throughout the commercialization cycle, from idea to commercialization, with the following services:
- Market Assessment • Recipe Development and Optimization • Food Safety/Regulatory Review • Process Development and Optimization • Analytical Testing Supporting Product Development • Packaging Optimization • Prototype Development • Label Review and Nutrition Facts Table Development • Shelf Life Evaluation
- Technical Support for companies experiencing challenges related to product quality, process efficiency and innovation.
This can include:
» Post-Harvest Handling Practices of Fish and Seafood » Fish Processing Techniques and Technologies » Seafood Product Development » Fisheries Bioresource Utilization
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