Advancing Southeast Alberta's Agri-food Economy

Medicine Hat - The City of Medicine Hat, in collaboration with Cypress County, the County of Forty Mile, the Town of Bow Island and Town of Redcliff, and the Village of Foremost, has released What We Heard – Summary of Key Findings from their Regional Agriculture and Agri-food Investment Strategy for Southeast Alberta. 

Agriculture and agri-food are priority sectors for Southeast Alberta, with significant opportunities to attract investment and strengthen long-term regional economic growth. The strategy is one of 17 initiatives currently being advanced that were identified in the Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Strategy and Framework.

“Southeast Alberta’s strong agricultural base continues to drive long-term economic growth,” said Selena McLean-Moore, Director of Economic Development with the City of Medicine Hat. “Producers in the region already operate at a commercial scale. The next step is capturing more value locally - through processing, investment, and supply chain development - while making it easier for businesses to grow and invest here.”

44 agri-businesses and industry enablers from across the region were consulted to better understand Southeast Alberta’s strengths, opportunities, and constraints. Feedback highlighted Southeast Alberta’s strengths in irrigated agriculture and proximity to applied R&D environments in agriculture, aerospace, and defence.

Participants identified several growth opportunities in value-added ingredient processing, functional foods, plant-based proteins, circular-economy products, on-farm applied technology demonstrations, co-packaging and cold-storage capacity. Stakeholders emphasized the need to improve how businesses access support, accelerate innovation, and strengthen regional alignment within broader supply chains. 
 
The engagement also pointed to opportunities in advanced technologies, where capabilities developed in testing, evaluation, automation, and sensor technologies can be adapted to address practical agricultural challenges. Together, these insights form the basis of the What We Heard – Summary of Key Findings and will help guide the next phases of regional collaboration, applied innovation, and investment readiness across Southeast Alberta.

“This is a coordinated, regional approach to growth,” added McLean-Moore. “By aligning around shared priorities, Southeast Alberta can compete more effectively and create jobs and lasting economic impact.”

Read the What We Heard - Summary of Key Findings for full details.

For further details, visit Medicine Hat Economic Development's Reports and Resources page or email opportunity@medicinehat.ca.

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media@medicinehat.ca