Canada: January approvals secure 1.6m for Ontario organizations and collaborations
To date, the AAC board of directors, has approved 69 projects totalling over 6.5 million in GF2 funding for Ontario Organizations and Collaborations. For a complete list of GF2 projects click here.
"Ontario is seeing great benefit from GF2 investments." says Kristin Ego MacPhail, AAC Chair. "Applicants are accessing funds to increase the sectors efficiency in the use of water and energy, conduct competitor analysis and create marketing resources, and enhance the industry's leadership governance capacity." Among the new projects:
• Vineland Growers' Cooperative Ltd. will conduct extensive consumer research to identify the attributes in pears sought after by consumers. The project will also analyze the agronomic attributes of pear cultivars for such key factors as consistent yield and fruit size and disease resistance (particularly to fire blight). The goal of this project is to develop an effective marketing plan for the introduction of a new variety in terms of packaging, consumer education, consumer awareness building, point of sale materials, and retailer outreach.
• Grain Farmers of Ontario will advance the presence of high oleic soybeans in the Canadian marketplace. The oil from high oleic soybeans offers superior functional and performance characteristics for the Canadian food industry, compared to traditional sources of oils. There is a need for resources to pursue market development opportunities and introduce the benefits of high oleic soybean oil to key-end users in Canada. The focus will be on large food service chains in Canada. This segment represents the largest opportunity for oil consumption in the Canadian market and the most influential in driving demand through the value chain.
Organizations and Collaborations can continue to access funding through GF2 for:
• Capacity Building through strategic planning, training, audits or assessments; and,
• Project Implementation for projects that focus on the environment and climate change, animal and plant health, market development, labour productivity enhancement, assurance systems, and business and leadership development.
GF2 is aimed at encouraging innovation, competitiveness and market development in Canada's agri-food and agri-products sector. The AAC assists in the delivery of GF2 in Ontario.
The AAC is based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and is a leader in program delivery. The AAC is a not-for-profit organization that is made up of 68 Ontario agricultural, agri-food and rural organizations. The AAC board of directors reviews all applications and makes the final funding decisions.
For more information
Agriculutral Adaptation Council
Nadine Armstrong, CAE, Manager, Communications & Industry Relations
T: (519)822-7552, Ext. 29
[email protected]
www.adaptcouncil.org