Country Ribbon has received government funding to install new technology which will increase productivity and expand markets, while reducing its environmental footprint.

The federal and provincial governments announced more than $8 million this morning, aimed at purchasing air-chill technology and secondary processing equipment.

Air-chilling will replace the water-chilling process, thus reducing the amount of water needed.

Agriculture Minister Derrick Bragg says there’s a growing demand for locally-raised chicken which is air-chilled as opposed to water-chilled. Unlike traditional cooling methods, air-chilled produces less moisture.

Bragg says this will enable Country Ribbon to increase the amount of product sold in grocery stores across Newfoundland and Labrador.

The province is putting up $800,000 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which is funded under the partnership’s Agriculture Processing and Value-Added Program.