Forget what federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Prime Minister Stephen Harper say about the importance of research, development and innovation.
Watch what they are doing.
Erie Innovations and Commercialization is closing at the end
of the month because the federal government has cut its support.
Others involved in funding the research and development have
pledged ongoing support, but without a continuation of federal support, the
management says it cannot continue.
One option would be to continue with funding for individual
projects, but the organization has rejected that option.
“Erie
Innovation and Commercialization has been an excellent program to deal directly
with diversification of opportunities for agricultural and horticultural producers
in Ontario,” said Art Smith, chief executive officer for the Ontario Fruit and
Vegetable Growers Association.
“New companies and organizations have strongly
benefitted from the efforts of our staff,” said Smith.
The centre is Quick Freeze, endamame, maple sweet
water, castor, Russian dandelion, quinoa and biomass.
Under
vice-president John Kelly, the staff shifted focus from the research approach
of the Delhi Research Station to innovation and commercialization.
There
has been no comment from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada about its funding
lapse. It has been quick to issue news releases to announce its funding support
in the past.
The
board of directors for Erie Innovations and Commercialization includes Smith
and Harold Schooley from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association,
Dr. Gord Surgeonor from Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, David Sparling from the
University of Western Ontario’s business school, Frank Ingratta, former deputy
of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Steve Peters, former Ontario
minister of agriculture who now works for the Alliance of Ontario Food
Processors, Jim Grey of IGPC Ethanol Inc., Clark Hoskin, manager of tourism and
economic development for Norfolk County and Mary Shabatura of Shabatura Farms
Ltd.
