PrairiesCan is the department that supports diversification of the economy across the Canadian Prairies. PrairiesCan supports businesses, innovation, and community economic development in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Past research, consultation and engagement activities at the Western Economic Diversification Canada, predecessor of PrairiesCan, have led to the identification of high-potential clusters across the prairies provinces that could significantly contribute to regional growth. The Saskatoon Food and Ingredients Processing Cluster (the Saskatoon Cluster) is one of the high potential clusters identified in the West. This Cluster is centered on Saskatoon but includes communities within 125 kilometers radius, such as Rosetown, Humboldt, Outlook, and Rosthern. It is home to the Saskatoon Food Industry Development Centre, the University of Saskatchewan, and more than 90 food and ingredient companies including Ingredion and Three Farmers Food. Since 2018, WD-Saskatchewan has been supporting the Saskatoon Cluster through research, outreach, pathfinding, convening, and funding support through the Business Scale-Up and Regional Innovation Ecosystem programs. WD-SK’s work has built the initial momentum for the Cluster, including the establishment of the Cluster Steering Committee and the Cluster CEO group that meet regularly to discuss pertinent issues and potential opportunities for the Saskatoon Cluster. Having established the governance and initial strategy, additional activities will be required to support the formal launch of the Saskatoon Cluster and its next stage of growth.
