Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack | USDA
In an effort to help the meat and poultry industry rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is giving a $32 million infusion of cash to enhance the food supply chain.
The move demonstrates the USDA’s commitment to help the industry rebound from the impact of the pandemic with funds going to 167 operations as grants from the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program, according to a USDA news release.
“Achieving a federal grant of inspection or operating under a cooperative interstate shipment program allows meat and poultry processors to ship products across state lines, pursue new market opportunities and better meet consumer and producer demand along the supply chain,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release.
According to the release, the funding will help meat and poultry processing operations meet the costs needed for improvements that can increase efficiency and boost output. The release noted that this can include facility expansions as well as the modernization of equipment for processing, labeling, packaging and food safety. It also noted these are all requirements to secure a grant of inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act or to operate under any interstate shipment programs.
Moreover, the release also noted that the MPIRG was authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. According to the release, this effort is a part of the USDA’s funding to help small businesses, including processing facilities, navigate the choppy waters in the wake of the pandemic.
The release further noted that in June the USDA revealed that $55.2 million in MPIRD funding was being made available to processors through a competitive grant process that concluded with the awards being announced. Any money that is remaining will be dispersed through requests for applications, according to the release.
