November 9, 2010,
Victoria, BC – The Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF) will
contribute up to $1,450,561 toward 22 new projects to help the B.C. agri-food
industry adapt, diversify and grow.
November 9, 2010,
Victoria, BC – The Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF) will
contribute up to $1,450,561 toward 22 new projects to help the B.C. agri-food
industry adapt, diversify and grow.
The list includes new
projects contracted between May 1 and August 31, 2010. Funding for these
projects is provided by IAF through programs it delivers on behalf of the
federal and provincial governments. The projects include strategic plans, a
variety of educational events, and research that will enable sectors to develop
innovative solutions to emerging issues.
“IAF funds a wide
variety of projects that are as diverse as the B.C. agriculture industry. From
large-scale multi-year research projects to projects with a shorter timeframe
or narrower scope, we can help sectors address their specific issues and
opportunities,” says Stuart Wilson, IAF chair. “We encourage industry groups to
talk to us about their priorities.”
Funding for the
following horticulture-based projects is provided through Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program:
- Abbotsford Growers
Cooperative Union: Market Development Assessment of Aseptic Processing of
Raspberries (A0605) – The Abbotsford Growers Cooperative Union owns the only
aseptic berry processing equipment in western Canada. Aseptic processing, which
requires considerably less thermal stress than other processing techniques,
could provide another value-added opportunity for the raspberry industry to
remain competitive in the global market. This $27,812 market assessment will
include a survey of current and potential buyers, analysis of results and
recommendations that will be shared with project participants and industry. - B.C. Hazelnut Growers’
Association: Cultivar Trial of Eastern Filbert Blight Resistant Hazelnuts in
the Fraser Valley (A0618) – B.C. is the only Canadian province that grows
hazelnuts commercially. In 2001, B.C.’s hazelnut trees were first identified as
being infected with Eastern Filbert Blight. This $27,000 five-year project will
establish field trials of new cultivars that are resistant to the disease and
share the results of the trial with growers, nurseries and agricultural
researchers.
IAF is an industry-led
not-for-profit that strategically invests federal and provincial funds in
support of innovative projects that benefit the agriculture and agri-food
industry in B.C. For more information on IAF and the programs it delivers,
visit wwwiafbc.ca.
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