British Columbia agriculture receiving large investment from federal government</H1>

Dec 24, 2014

Funding comes as part of Canada’s Growing Forward 2 agreement

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

British Columbia’s agri-food industry is receiving an investment of $2.5 million from the federal government to put towards as many as 27 new projects involving trial crops and development of new agriculture practices and products.

"This funding supports our British Columbia agri-foods industry by nurturing innovation by encouraging fresh ideas. When doing this, it helps the sector remain competitive, while it continues to be an integral part of our province's economy,” said B.C. Minister of Agriculture, Norm Letnick.

Some of the specific areas that will benefit from the grant are:

Testing of quinoa, flex, lentil and peas to grow in Peace Valley region
Designing and testing LED lights for growing lettuce and other leafy greens.
Developing commercial raw pet food products

There looks to be a catch, however.

The projects funded through this program must have the potential to lead to commercial success and/or adoption of the technologies and innovations used.

"Our Government is committed to making investments that advance research and develop new opportunities for producers in our agriculture sector,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “The valuable improvements that result from the diverse projects we are supporting will play a significant role in ensuring that Canada's agricultural industry continues to thrive and compete in the global marketplace."

The Growing Forward 2 agreement is a five year agreement between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, providing upwards of $3 billion to agri-food and agriculture in Canada.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.