FCC contributes $1.5 million to 82 community projects across Canada

Nov 08, 2024

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is giving $1.5 million through its FCC AgriSpirit Fund to 82 community groups across Canada to support rural capital projects.

“At FCC, we are incredibly proud to support projects that make a positive impact in the rural communities where we live and work,” said Justine Hendricks, FCC president and CEO. “Through the FCC AgriSpirit Fund, we’re investing in capital projects that enhance the quality of life and foster growth in these communities. From improving food security to enhancing community spaces, these projects are a testament to the creativity and dedication of those committed to building a brighter future for rural Canada.”

This year, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund awarded between $10,000 and $25,000 to various community improvement initiatives that enrich the lives of residents in cities, towns or Indigenous communities with fewer than 150,000 people.

Over the past 21 years, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund has supported 1,697 projects, an investment of $22.5 million.

Registered charities, non-profit groups, municipalities and First Nations, Métis or Inuit governments/communities interested in funding can visit fccagrispiritfund.ca for eligibility requirements, to apply online and view past projects.

Source : FCC-FAC

Video: Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Pairwise has built its business around an idea that runs counter to how many companies approach innovation: make transformative technology easier to access.

In this Seed World interview, CEO Tom Adams discusses why broader access to gene editing could speed crop improvement, expand innovation opportunities and help agriculture address emerging challenges. He explains why Pairwise believes no single company can solve all of agriculture's problems alone—and why making advanced breeding technologies available to more organizations could accelerate progress across the industry.

The conversation explores how consumer trust influences technology adoption, why innovations like pitless cherries and seedless blackberries matter beyond convenience, and how future crop improvements could help address labor shortages, automation, harvest efficiency and other production challenges. Adams also shares his perspective on what the industry may be underestimating about the next wave of gene editing innovation.

Watch the full interview to hear why Pairwise believes agriculture is approaching an important inflection point for gene editing, and why the pace of innovation over the next decade could surprise the industry.

Topics Covered:

o Democratizing agricultural innovation

o Consumer trust and technology adoption

o The business case for sharing innovation

o Expanding innovation beyond major crops

o Next-generation breeding technologies