Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Erie Innovations closing


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.