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June 29, 2010
DEVOLIN ANNOUNCES $2.4 MILLION INVESTMENT IN ONTARIO’S
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
PETERBOROUGH – Local MP Barry Devolin on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Gerry Ritz today announced a $2.4 million investment to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
The money will be used to help to create valuable new markets and increase profitability for Ontario famers by investing in research that will determine the economic opportunities for growing biomass as an alternative energy source.
“Today’s announcement will help farmers in my riding and across Ontario gain the knowledge they need to remain strong and competitive,” said Devolin. “The research will help Ontario agriculture lead the way to an entirely new family of crops, a new stable market and a new industry for purpose-grown crops used for energy sources.”
The OFA, in partnership with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, will research all aspects relating to growing, storing and aggregating agricultural biomass, which are crops grown specifically for energy generation. The project will look the most efficient and beneficial timing for this new sector to emerge, and an economic assessment will look at its impact on job creation, investment, and income sources.
“The goal is to ensure farmers have an opportunity to participate in the growth of Ontario’s renewable energy industry, earning acceptable returns in the process,” says Bette Jean Crews, OFA president.
"This project will help Ontario farmers make informed decisions regarding the economical and environmentally sustainable production practices of purpose-grown biomass crops," says Jim Rickard, AAC Chair.
Funding for this project is being provided by the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Ontario, CAAP is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC).
CAAP is a five-year (2009-2014), $163-million national initiative that aims to help the Canadian agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. Eligible CAAP projects could be in areas of traceability, environment, climate change, capacity development, pests and diseases, and more.
for more information on CAAP, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/caap. To learn more about AAC, please visit
www.adaptcouncil.org.
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For more information contact:
Barry Devolin, MP
(705) 324-2400 or (866) 688-9881
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