VICTORIA - Investing in new ideas creates value and better ways of doing things - that's why the federal and provincial governments have targeted over $4.5 million through the Growing Forward Agreement to support B.C. agricultural producers and processors who want to develop new products, processes, markets and ideas. The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon and B.C. Agriculture Minister Ben Stewart, made the announcement today.

"By investing in innovation, the Government of Canada is helping farmers make the most of their resources," said Minister Strahl, on behalf of federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "These initiatives will create opportunities for agribusinesses to explore new ways of doing business, and increase their capacity to bring new products to the marketplace."

"Investing in innovation helps set the table for B.C.'s agricultural sectors to compete in the market and succeed in the future," Stewart said. "Right now there is a global spotlight on agriculture and our producers and processors are actively testing new ideas and continually improving their businesses to help keep B.C. on the cutting edge of innovation."

Under the innovation banner of the federal-provincial Growing Forward Agreement, government and industry are collaborating on a number of initiatives, such as the $2.04 million Innovation and Commercialization Centre. The Centre will be a one-stop agricultural information resource promoting product development within industry by linking businesses and other organizations with service and technology suppliers. Other initiatives are focused on:

* Encouraging the development of high-efficiency, low-waste manufacturing processes.
* Helping producers and processors identify and realise opportunities for biomass use in bio-energy and nutraceuticals.
* Creating enhanced B.C. product quality assessments.
* Fostering the development of premium products and niche markets.
* Planning a series of agriculture innovation forums to foster collaborative science, policy and marketing action plans and strategies.

These and other innovation initiatives will help the B.C. agri-food sector speed up the development and adoption of new technologies and processes, improving their economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability and ability to adapt to the regional and global marketplace.

The five-year Growing Forward Agreement ends in 2013 and includes $475 million in federal and provincial support to the B.C. agricultural sector to help provide income stability and insurance against losses through Business Risk Management programs. An additional $78 million is being invested in programs designed to help farmers and other participants in the agricultural and agri-food industry increase their competitiveness and profitability.

For more information on Growing Forward programs in B.C., visit: http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/apf/GF_Programs.html

Patrick Vert
Public Affairs Officer
BC Ministry of Agriculture
250-387-1693

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

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