Ottawa, Ontario – Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced two new projects today totaling close to $900,000 under the Agricultural Clean Technology Program that will help Quebec farmers take action on climate change and capture new and emerging economic opportunities.
One of the investments will support Coop Agri-Énergie Warwick, the first agricultural cooperative dedicated to the production of renewable energy in Quebec, in the development of a cooperative agricultural biomethanizer plant. The plant will transform cow manure and organic residues from local industries into biomethane, a renewable natural gas. The federal government is providing Coop Agri-Énergie Warwick with up to $758,243 to carry out its novel initiative to further process the digestate produced by this eco-friendly plant, therefore enhancing its agricultural value to the benefit of its farmers’ members.
Innofibre, a college technology transfer center within Cégep de Trois-Rivières, will receive up to $125,400 in federal funding toward the development of agro-industrial bioproducts, including natural health products, cosmetics and household products. The products will be made from residues derived from the processing of industrial hemp and flax. This project will provide economic benefits for Quebec farmers, while promoting the development of agri-based materials in place of less environmentally-friendly alternatives.
The Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program is a $25-million, three-year investment (2018 – 2021) which aims to support research, development and adoption of clean technologies through investments in, and promotion of precision agriculture and agri-based bioproducts.
Source : Government of Canada