B.C. agriculture and agri-food projects, supporting everything from innovation to food safety, are receiving more than $2.9 million in funding from the governments of Canada and British Columbia.

The projects are supported through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a five-year framework that co-ordinates federal, provincial and territorial agricultural policy and programs.

The five-year GF2 policy framework came into effect on April 1, 2013, and provides a $3-billion federal, provincial and territorial government investment in innovation, competitiveness and market development. The framework includes $2 billion cost-shared on a 60:40 basis for programs delivered by provinces and territories, as well as $1 billion for federal-only strategic initiatives.

The BC Jobs Plan’s Agrifoods Strategy clearly states how innovation and improved competitiveness will help the agriculture sector become a $14-billion-a-year industry by 2017.

Quotes:

B.C. Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick -

“By supporting these projects, we ensure our industry enjoys sector-wide benefits including increased competitiveness. The B.C. government is supporting industry as they continue to develop sustainable operations and build on British Columbia’s reputation as a source of trusted and healthy foods, both locally and internationally.”

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz -

“Growing Forward 2 is providing British Columbia with the flexibility it needs to grow agriculture and the Canadian economy. Our Government is proud to partner with the Province to help give B.C. producers access to the tools they need for continued success.”

Learn more:

For more information on federal GF2 programs, visit: www.agr.gc.ca/GrowingForward2.

Information on GF2 programs in British Columbia is available at: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/apf/GF2/GF2.html.

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Agriculture
250 356-7098
250 889-5945 (cell)

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613 773-7972
1 866 345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

Jeff English
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613 773-1059

BACKGROUNDER

Growing Forward 2 supports agriculture industry development

Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2013, the following funding was released under GF2:

• AEL Agroecological Consulting: $6,176 to conduct a field survey component of the Agricultural Land Use Inventory, which will assist the development of an Agricultural Water Demand Model.
• Alison Thorpe (contract): $9,259 to conduct a field survey component of the Agricultural Land Use Inventory, which will assist the development of an Agricultural Water Demand Model.
• Artemis Wildlife Consultants: $6,067 to provide outreach for bovine tuberculosis in wild cervids.
• Arthur Wray McDonnell (contract): $9,870 to conduct a field survey component of the Agricultural Land Use Inventory, which will assist the development of an Agricultural Water Demand Model.
• BC Agricultural Research & Development Corporation:
  
• $325,000 to administer the Regional Adaptation Enhancement Fund as part of regional climate change adaptation for the B.C. agriculture industry.
• $244,896 for the continued delivery of the Environmental Farm Plan Program.
• $213,525 to continue to deliver the Traceability Adoption Program.
• $1,600 to organize and host the 2014 Agri-energy Forum during the Pacific Agriculture Show in January 2014.
• BC Association of Cattle Feeders: $3,500 to co-ordinate expert speakers at a risk management workshop.
• BC Blueberry Council: $50,000 to support B.C. blueberry producers to adopt food safety best practices.
• BC Dairy Association: $825 for the Dairy Innovation Technology Transfer Outreach Program to develop and publish articles featuring innovative dairy technologies.
• BC Fruit Growers' Association:
  
• $42,664 to support on-farm food safety outreach for tree fruit and vine producers.
• $5,840 to develop a program to control apple maggot.
• BC Greenhouse Growers' Association:
• $17,500 for the Microbial Contamination in Greenhouse Vegetable Irrigation Water and Grower Education Program.
• $8,800 to evaluate biological control agents for preventing cucumber diseases, validate their use and safeguard crop health and production.
• BC Pork Producers Association: $1,000 to develop, promote and deliver an On-Farm Euthanasia Seminar and Field Training Session for hog producers.
• BC Potato & Vegetable Growers' Association: $3,000 to create awareness of potential risks to the commercial potato sector associated with home-gardening activities in the Lower Mainland.
• BC Vegetable Marketing Commission: $41,990 to support B.C. potato, field and greenhouse vegetable producers to adopt food safety best practices.
• BC Cattlemen's Association Program Delivery Inc:
  
• $35,000 to support the adoption of Verified Beef Production Program by B.C. beef producers.
• $18,000 to provide educational presentations on farm and ranch succession planning issues.
• $9,000 to develop, promote and deliver a biosecurity training module and information package to B.C. beef producers.
• BC Food Protection Association: $13,500 to provide educational conferences and workshops to address cold chain maintenance and process control through the food transportation system.
• Canadian Mushroom Growers' Association: $5,000 to support a farm business management speaker at the North American Mushroom Conference.
• Community Futures Development Corporation of South Fraser: $27,000 to improve human resource management practices used on B.C. farms through the development of farm specific HR policies and educational seminars.
• Community Futures Fraser Fort George: $8,500 to deliver a series of learning events to support the development of marketing and branding strategies for producers located along the Highway 16 corridor.
• Drinkwater Environmental Services Ltd: $5,663 to conduct a field survey component of the Agricultural Land Use Inventory, which will assist the development of an Agricultural Water Demand Model.
• Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development Canada: $6,000 for promotional activities for Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Products in Hong Kong.
• Emily MacNair (contract): $57,860 to develop agricultural climate change programming and projects that build on the work of the BC Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative.
• Fraser Valley Cole Crop Growers' Association: $5,400 to monitor for Swede Midge in south western B.C. cole crops.
• George Powell (contract): $12,160 to support the stewardship of winter feeding systems on riparian meadows.
• Global Trade Information Services, Inc: $10,178 to provide market intelligence on the agrifoods industry using comprehensive import and export trade data.
• Graeme Fowler (contract): $4,455 to conduct the field survey component of the Agricultural Land Use Inventory, which will assist the development of an Agricultural Water Demand Model.
• Investment Agriculture Foundation: $851,869 to continue to deliver the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program to increase awareness, development and adoption of innovative products, processes and technologies
  

Link to July 2013 announcement:
http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/07/canada-and-bc-support-agriculture-innovation-and-competitiveness.html

• $615,000 to continue to deliver the BC Agrifoods Export Program to support increased export sales from B.C.'s agrifood sector.

Link to November 2013 announcement:
http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/11/canada-and-bc-promote-agrifoods-to-overseas-buyers.html

• Kwantlen Polytechnic University: $28,030 to develop and test new biofungicides to target specific diseases of concern for vegetable seed bed production and selected berry crops.
• Langara College: $4,500 to investigate the research opportunities related to pyrolysis as an environmentally and cost effective process to treat poultry litter residues.Lolita Aumuller (contract): $16,658 to develop and lead a Regional Nutrient Management Planning pilot project.
• Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association: $10,000 to organize and produce the Horticulture Short Course at the Pacific Agriculture Show.
• Madrone Environmental Services Ltd: $8,982 to develop an assessment tool for agricultural nutrient management planning.
• Raspberry Industry Development Council: $33,095 to support B.C. raspberry producers to adopt food safety best practices.
• RHF Systems Ltd: $15,345 to provide upgrades to the Agriculture Water Demand Model.
• RWDI AIR Inc: $7,678 to support the air quality inventory model development process.
• Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association Inc: $30,000 to support adoption of Good Agricultural and Collection Practices Program by B.C. herb and spice producers, non-timber forest resource harvesters and wild crafters, and specialty crops and hemp.
• SDRJ Consulting Ltd: $25,000 for research and analysis on AgrifoodBC web platform and provide strategic implementation plan for future steps.
• Thompson Rivers University: $22,900 for research on transforming the nutritive value of barley grains by hydroponic sprouting for use in grass-fed beef and dairy production.
• University of British Columbia:
  
• $25,680 to research the effect of using advanced microwave and radio-frequency technology for treating dairy manure in order to reduce nutrient concentrations and produce struvite - a potentially marketable slow-release fertilizer.
• $10,000 to develop a database of crop and manure nutrient contents which can be used in nutrient management planning by producers.
• $4,500 to complete a research project to evaluate and select honey bees for resistance to the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. 
• University of the Fraser Valley: $12,600 to develop a centralized stock nursery facility that will provide certified virus-free plant material to B.C. producers, and establish an integrated plant introduction scheme for perennial shrubs and trees.
• Upland Consulting: $33,868 to provide a socio-economic and environmental assessment of beneficial management practices.
• Valley Farm Drainage: $4,300 to identify subsurface drainage system locations to benefit agricultural management planning processes such as flood emergency, crop and livestock insurance, manure spreading, nutrient management, on-farm drainage, and watershed and ditch maintenance.
  

Total contributions: $2,969,233

Media Contacts:

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Agriculture
250 356-7098
250 889-5945 (cell)

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613 773-7972
1 866 345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

Jeff English
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613 773-1059