Illinois politician calls for cellular meat ban

 

 A central Illinois state representative has filed House Bill 5872, which intends to outlaw the production or sale of cultivated meat in the state.

The “Illinois Cultivated Meat Act,” as presented by Rep. Chris Miller, would define cultivated meat, have the state Department of Agriculture oversee the act and would charge violators with a misdemeanor.

In announcing the proposed bill, Miller purported to protect Illinois farmers.

“We don’t need fake meat laboratories creating a highly expensive product that tries to replicate real meat,” he said.

He dismissed environmental claims as “ideology” that is “mind-blowing” and claimed there are opponents to  unnamed cultivated meat based on “safety concerns, high costs and overall lack of research.”

NFU urges action on Lake Erie nutrients

 The National Farmers Union wants the federal and Ontario governmernts to stop dallying on a promise to cut phosphorous entering Lake Erie by 40 per cent.

And it said in a report it has issued that it’s willing to go beyond subsidies and accept regulation to achieve the goal.

In more than 50 years as a farm reporter, I have never seen a general farm organization advocate for government regulation of its members.

The NFU-O (Ontario branch) noted that this year’s algae bloom in Lake Erie “is whopping 620 square miles.”

For farmers who take pride in being land and water stewards, the persistence of these agriculturally-caused algal blooms is distressing, the NFU said in a news release.

“We want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” said Don Ciparis, a conventional grain grower in Elgin County. 

“We wish to initiate honest and difficult conversations about what we can do as farmers to advance an environmentally-responsible agriculture sector in this province.”

The NFU-O said it “is keen to sit down with the provincial and federal governments, and other agricultural organizations, to develop robust policy to support the critical role of farmers in maintaining healthy soils and waters.”

Instead of taking commercial fertilizer suppliers’ advice at face value, farmers want the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) to reintroduce comprehensive extension services that provide unbiased nutrient guidance and free annual soil testing for all farm operations, it said.

The NFU-O is also calling for a Canadian Farm Resiliency Agency to coordinate a rapid, science-guided, and least cost transition to financially secure, emission-minimizing farms and food systems.

“Farmers shouldn’t have to choose between a fair income and w

ater health. With survey respondents reporting that crop farmers spend, on average, one-fifth of their input costs on fertilizer, we are overdue for a public education campaign that provides farming strategies that maximize profit, not yield and help farmers arrive at least-cost crop production,” it said.

The existing public and private grants, subsidies, and cost-share programs that support best agricultural conservation practices need to be expanded. Financial supports to lessen nutrient use and/or support nutrient retention should be easy to apply for, equitably administered, and long enough in duration to measure the efficacy of any intervention, it said.

Almost half of the farmers it surveyed are also interested in exploring solutions that go beyond the voluntary carrot. 

“Participation rates in voluntary programs remain stubbornly low, and the agricultural operations that decline to reduce nutrient use, follow best management practices, or undertake naturalization projects are giving the entire agricultural sector a bad rap, " it said.

“Many farmers try to do everything just right while the neighbour down the road just doesn’t seem to care. This can be very frustrating,” said one farmer survey respondent.

It also suggested tax breaks and subsidies could be conditional on the adoption and maintenance of on-farm agricultural conservation practices. 

“This could include incentivizing farmers who participate in the federal AgriInvest program who have enacted proven ecological improvements. 

Or, at the provincial/municipal level, we would like to pursue a discounted conservation property tax rate that is tied to specific agricultural conservation practices.”

The NFU-O also recommended following the lead of British Columbia farmers who worked with the province to develop specific synthetic fertilizer regulations. 

Any synthetic fertilizer guidelines could work in tandem with the manure regulations within Ontario’s Nutrient Management Act, it said.

These regulations could include regular soil testing and OMAFA supportive interventions whenever these tests reveal elevated nutrient levels.

“We will also need to ensure that any new regulations, along with the ones already covered in the Act to regulate greenhouses and manure storage and application, have adequate compliance, monitoring, and enforcement both to be effective and to gain the public’s trust,” it said.

                       

 

Farm wages soaring

 

Farm wages increased the fastest of any sector measured by Statistics Canada between 2019 and 2023.

Armine Yalnizyan who tracks the labour market for Statistics Canada said farm wages increased by 48 per cent, starting from an average of $18.89 an hour.

Aside from them, the largest gains were for the top tier. In 2019 there were 1.8 million Canadians making more than $38.38 an hour and in 2023 there were 5.3 million.

The ranks of managers increased by a third.

One reason might be immigrants seeking permanent residence status; if they are managers, their wait is shortened.

Subsidies of $22.5 million for 319 winners

 

The federal and Ontario agriculture departments have picked 319 farm and agriculture businesses to share $22.6 million.

The money comes from the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative.

With cost sharing, the total investment will be $61 million iin new technology, equipment or processes that increase production and efficiency.

Three examples the governments highlighted are:

• Up to $49,000 for Roelofsen Nursery of Norwich to purchase an electric self-propelled sprayer for field nursery crops.

• Up to $45,000 for Byler Enterprises Ltd. of Algoma District to install reverse osmosis equipment for maple syrup production.

• Up to $100,000 for Solmaz Foods of Etobicoke for a refrigeration and freezers that enhance energy efficiency and capacity.

CoBank comments on soybean prices and outlook

 

CoBank says a sharp decline in global demand has pressured prices down for United State’s.soybeans.

International buyers remain discouraged by a strong dollar, slowing economic growth and uncertainty over the direction of U.S. trade policy in an election year, it wrote in its recent market analysis.

Export sales of new-crop soybeans are usually low as harvest begins but CoBank thinks things might get better later on.

on.however, several tailwinds could emerge to rejuvenate 

Tanner Ehmke, lead grain and oilseed economist for CoBank. Said a smaller-than-expected South American soybean harvest, a bump in European demand for soybeans from non-deforested acreage, falling interest rates in the U.S., and a recovery of the Chinese economy could all fuel increased export demand.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting a record Brazilian soybean crop, however, low prices may discourage Brazilian farmers from expanding soybean acreage as planting begins in the coming weeks. 

La Niña to also expected to emerge this September, which could negatively impact Brazilian soybean yields.

New European demand for U.S. soybeans is also expected to emerge when rules surrounding imports and deforestation take effect. Beginning Dec. 30, 2024, new imports into the EU must be certified to have come from land that was not deforested in the past decade.

(I say those European market protectionists will seize on any issue to stifle imports.)

That gives soybeans from the U.S. and Canada an advantage over South American soybeans in the European market.

An economic recovery in China could lead to an acceleration of soybean purchases. The Chinese government is expected to aggressively lower interest rates in an attempt to stimulate the country’s sagging economy.

 

That could increase consumer demand for meat in China which would require more soybeans and soybean meal.

As the U.S. cuts interest rates, its soybean prices will gain some edge over Brazil.

Beef industry posts gains

 

The Canadian beef industry reports it made gains with its five-year national beef strategy, including increased exports, a better reputation with the Canadian public and improved health status.

The strategy was adopted by the Beef Cattle Research Council, Canada Beef, Canadian Beef Breeds Council, Canadian Cattle Association, National Cattle Feeders’ Association, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Canadian Meat Council.

Craig Lehr, chair of both the research council and the Canadian Beef Advisors group, highlighted Canada’s gains in controlling Bovine Spongiform Encephalopthy disease.

In 2021, Canada achievbed negligible risk status, setting the Singapore has since removed all related restrictions, Japan has fully expanded access and Taiwan has removed all BSE restrictions.

Asian markets also opened wider under the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, said Lehr.

“We’ve strengthened our exports. We hit over the $5-billion mark in exports, largely due to the CPTPP, and that’s without having access to China,” said Lehr. “That’s huge.”

China remains closed.

The increase in exports shows demand for Canadian beef and respect for quality of the product, Lehr said.

He said the industry spent a lot of money to improve its reputation with Canadians, including partnering with conservation organizations, and a short documentary “Guardians of the Grasslands” that said cattle farms sequester carbon and preserve the environment.

“We’re part of the solution, not part of the problem,” he said. “I think it’s huge to be able to swing that narrative. It really shows the industry is doing what it needs to do. We’re proving ourselves and what we do. That’s all done on the back of producer dollars.”

He said social media has been a powerful tool to connect with the public and to praise the nutritional and environmental benefits of beef.

From 2014-22, greenhouse gas emissions from beef production dropped 15 per cent, Lehr said, and probably decline more with the adoption of newly-approved feed additives.

He said the main challenges that remain to be met are attracting young people into the industry and making the supply chain more resilient.

Workers apply for freedoms

 

There has been a sharp increase in the number and percentage of temporary foreign workers who are taking advantage of a provision that allows them to switch employers after they arrive in Canada.

The federal government offered the provision after strident criticism, including from the United Nations, for limiting the workers to the employer who hired them upon entry to Canada.

The Toronto Star reports that 240 of 567 worker in 2019 took advantage of the provision, 2,060 of 3,930 last year and 2,395 of 3,121 between January and July this year.

A report by an investigator from the United Nations called the program legalized slavery..

Tractor parade protests Wilmot land grab

 

About 40 tractors were driven to the Waterloo Regional government’s head office in Kitchener Wednesday to protest the purchase of 770 acres at New Hamburg for an industrial park.

They were joined by hundreds of pedestrian protestors who are angry about secrecy, lack of consultation, loss of farmland and destruction of 160 acres of corn.

Mark Reusser, president of the Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, has criticized the region for launching the project without changing the official plan and consulting the public.

The government has a deal to buy the 160-acre farm and has told the other land owners it will use expropriation if they do not agree to sell.

Kevin Thomason said the tractor parade protest is something that "hasn't been seen in years if ever in Waterloo Region."

Thomason is the vice-chair of the Grand River Environmental Network. 

"Farmers are really angry and concerned they aren't being heard by the Region or province so they are calling out the tractors,” he wrote in an e-mail to CBC News.

The parade began at the Wilmot Township site east of New Hamburg and south of Highway 7 & 8.

Many political officials were in attendance including Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife and Jenn Pfenning, president the National Farmers Union who farms within a few kilometers of the land assembly.

Punkeydoodles Steve provided live entertainment by performing his song titled 770 Acres, inspired by the farmer's fight to keep their land. 

                           

Vaccine protects against anaplasmosis

Researchers at the University of Missouri say trials show that its vaccine works to protect cattle against tick-borne acute anaplasmosis.

The vaccine was developed by knocking out a gene.

Farmers, ranchers and veterinarians typically counter anaplasmosis with feed additives based on tetracycline. 

That could result in tetracycline-resistant bacteria multiplying and sickening cattle.

Another approach has been development of live or killed vaccines, but success is limited, the research team at the University of Missouri wrote in their research report.

The research team is continuing its testing to determine how wide the immunity extends among the many strains of the disease.

Until 2014, anaplasmosis was a reportable disease which the Canadian Food Inspection Agency would try to eliminate.

When it became more widespread in the United States and Canada, the CFIA dropped the reporting mandate, but asked veterinarians to tell it when they detected it.

When the CFIA bowed out, if left it to farmers and ranchers to deal with it.

The Missouri researchers estimate it costs the U.S. industry about $1.6 billion.

Applications open for pork leadership program

 

Applications are now open for the Ontario Pork Leadership Training Program.

The program starts with an assessment of personal traits and identification of leadership capabilities. 

It teaches strategic decision-making and effective communication skills.

The Ontario Pork marketing board says the program helps participants in their farm business and to take industry leadership roles and develops friendships.

The board covers costs. 

More information is available from olga.klashtorny@ontariopork.on.ca

Organic farmers win award

 

DJ Wassenaar and Matt Bergman of Haybury Farms Inc. at Jarvis are this year’s Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers.

They edged out Romy and Ryan Schill of Wallenstein.

Bergman grew up on a dairy farm and started on his own when he was 23.

He took jobs to pay for land.

Wassenaar was raised on a beef farm and he began with beef and transitioned to crops.

They decided to increase revenues by going organic in 2018 with identity-preserve beans and contracts for organics.

The next year they grew organic corn and soybeans on 400 acres and named their business Claybank Organics.

They bought a farm in Algoma District in Northern Ontario In 2021 and grow timothy hay for export.

Now Claybank Organics is growsing 1,000 acres of organic corn, soybeans and hay, and Haybury farms 3,200 acres.

Romy and Ryan Schill run Circle R Livestock Ltd/Revolution Wool Company at Wallenstein.

National OYF board member, Richard Stamp, said in a news release that both finalists “are real leaders in many aspects, of Canada’s exciting and diversified agriculture industry.”

Ag economists turn pessimistic

 Agriculture economists have turned decidedly pessimistic about the farm economy as corn and soybean prices decline.

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor found that many of them believe the ag economy is already in recession or on the brink of one.

If it weren’t for strong cattle prices and situation would be worse.

“When you look at, what we said for both, relative to last month or last year, some of the most pessimistic readings we’ve had, since we’ve been surveying here on 2024,” said Scott Brown, interim director, Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF), University of Missouri who also helps author the Monthly Monitor each month.

West Nile in Chatham ponds

 

The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit has detected West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected from three different trap sites in Chatham.

In July and early August the health unit found the virus in mosquitoes trapped in Wheatley, Dresden and Ridgetown.

It has not said whether any people have been infected.

Public health officials are reminding the public that the West Nile virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Only 20 per cent of bitten people develop symptoms such as fever, rash and muscle aches. 

West Nile can cause serious brain and spinal cord inflammation - encephalitis and meningitis – but that is rare.

Plant protein diet is costly

 

A plant-based diet that is nutritionally equivalent to one that includes animal proteins is far more expensive, according to new research at Massey University in New Zealand.

The researchers say a plant-based diet is 34 to 45 per cent more expensive than one that includes meats and dairy products instead of plant-based alternatives.

Bird flu hits Michigan dairy farm

A dairy farm in southwestern Michigan has had a case of avian influenza, the first in the state since May.

The state had a flurry of issues after the first dairy cow was detected with the virus on March 29, then five herds in April and 18 in May.

So far there have been no dairy cattle in Canada that have been infected with the virus which is a far greater threat to poultry.

C Canadians win big at cheese competition

Four Canadian cheeses - two from Quebec, two from Ontario - won top awards at the recent American Cheese Society's annual cheese competition. 

In all Canadians won 20 awards.

Best in Show was Raclette Compton au Poivre by Fromagerie la Station. It is an on-farm organic 60-cow operation. 

Overall second place went to le Cousin by Fromagerie Médard which has a herd of Brown Swiss to make Swiss cheeses. Both are in Quebec.

.

Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese at Woodstock won two awards. Their Dark Side of the Moo won first place for flavour-added cheeses and their 5 Brothers cheese won second place in washed rind cheeses.

Co-owner Shep Ysslestein said that first win last year coincided with renewed interest in artisanal foods.

Adam van Bergeijk, owner of Mountainoak Cheese near New Hamburg, started making cheese on his dairy farm in Holland in 1981.

His family moved to their current farm in 1996 after Dutch agricultural policy changes and started making cheeses on their farm 12 years ago.

"We had to tweak a little bit about our recipe, but not much," said van Bergeijk. "It turned out very well. It's the food the cows are getting, and also the environment that can be an issue as well."

A year later, they won Best Gouda at the Canadian Cheese Awards. They've since won 20 more Canadian and international awards, including at the International Cheese Awards and the World Cheese Awards.

Mountainoak's 240-head dairy farm and cheese factory sits on 77 hectares  and they rent another 69 including some that is being expropriated in Wilmot Township’s controversial land assembly for industrial development.

Each cow produces about 40 litres of milk daily, about 40 per cent is used for their cheese making. Each week, they make 160 wheels, or 1,600 kilograms of cheese.

"I love making the cheese. It's a natural product here, what we make it's an old recipe. But I think it's a nice honest product that I like to present to the people. There are no gimmicks." said van Bergeijk.

Guelph's Heather Thelwell of Guelph, a certified cheese maker, educator, and judge for cheese competitions said "Mountainoak has been growing the grain, doing a breeding program for their cows … the quality of the milk is amazing." 

Father-daughter team win beef award

John Duynisveld and his dauther, Maria, owners of Holdanca Farms near Wallace Bay, Nova Scotia, are this year’s winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award given at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference.

“It’s such an honor,” said John.

 

The Duynisvelds manage grass-fed cattle, sheep and pastured pigs and poultry on 250 of the 500 acres they own. The rest is managed woodlot.

They nurture migratory birds by making space for barn swallows in their buildings and by leaving forages uncut until nesting season ends.

They have hosted about 30 endangered species and have recorded more than 100 on their farm.

They host people and groups interested in the environment and work with others, such as Ag in the Classroom.

Dreyfus expanding pea protein marketing

 

Louis Dreyfus Company is establishing a new business unit that will focus on developing distribution channels for plant-based proteins that currently are used to produce alternatives to meat products.

Dreyfus, which is based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, announced in February that it is building a pea protein plant at Yorkton, Sask.

The new pulses business unit initially will focus on yellow peas, chickpeas, ref lentils, fava beans and pigeon peas, capitalizing on the company’s existing investments in those products.

Meat groups welcome rail service resumption

 

The Canadian Meat Council and the Canadian Pork Council issued statements praising the federal government for intervening to get 9,000 striking railway members back to work.

The government is using legislation to impose binding arbitration for issues not already settled in bargaining between the Teamsters Union, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific-Kansas railways.

“Canada’s red meat processors need stable, reliable supply chains to run their businesses,” said Chris White, head of the Canadian Meat Council.

“The action taken by the Minister of Labour will prevent millions of dollars in losses, irreversible reputational damage, environmental disposal challenges, and enormous waste.”

The groups noted that last summer’s Port of Vancouver strike disrupted $10.7 billion dollars’ worth of trade during 35 days of strike action. The two railways’ strike “would have had even worse, unprecedented ramifications,” they said.

They sent letters to the government before the one-day strike began urging action to prevent an interruption of service.

Dairy farmers file an appeal

Dairy farmers Chantelle Leslie and Erick Leach of Cobden have filed an appeal against the Dairy Farmers of Ontario marketing board.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Agribusiness Appeal Tribunall has set five days to deal with the appeal - September 4, 5, 6, 12 and 20,, all beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Crop pathologist joins Ridgetown

 

Gursahib Singh is the new Grain Farmers of Ontario professor of field crop pathology based at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus.

He is supported by $2 million from the Grain Farmers of Ontario which announced its contribution a year ago January.

Singh earned his doctorate at thee University of Saskatchewan in 2021 and has managed more than 100 research trials on crop protection, agronomy, precision agriculture, soil nutrient dynamics, genotype screening and evaluation under dryland and irrigation conditions while at the irrigation and crop diversification centre in Saskatchewan.

He will also be teaching at Ridgetown.

West Nile virus found in Grey-Bruce, Perth and Essex-Windsor

 

The first cases of West Nile virus have been found in three municipalities – in Windsor-Essex, Perth County and Grey-Bruce.

In Windsor-Essex it is an adult male.

In Grey-Bruce it is a crow.

In Perth County it is mosquitoes trapped in Stratford.

"Most people with West Nile Virus never develop symptoms and will not know they have an infection with the virus," read a release from the Gre3y-Bruce health unit.

 "Symptoms usually start to show between two to 14 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. They can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands."

People 50 and over and those with compromised immune systems are the most at risk for severe disease.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Mehdi Aloosh said it's important for people to stay on guard while they are outdoors.

"Even though the temperatures are getting cooler, it is still important for everyone to eliminate any standing water around their property and take personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites during the fall months," said Aloosh.

Bacon, ham recalled

 

Pavao Meats and Deli Ltd. in Toronto is recalling bacon and ham sold under the brand name European Butcher.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency detected listeria monocytogenes food-poisoning bacteria in the products, but has had no reports of illnesses.

Package sizes are variable, and the UPCs involved are:

·       Starting with 0-215096 for back bacon halves;

·       Starting with 0-200386 for back bacon chunks and

·       Starting with 0 200029 for back bacon slices.

The batch number for all three varieties is 177.

                           

Turkey processors face price-fixing lawsuit

 

A federal judge in Illinois gave Aramark Food and Support Services Group the greenlight to move forward with an individual antitrust lawsuit against major turkey processors, accusing them of conspiring to suppress turkey production and inflate prices.

Aramark is also part of a pending class action that makes similar claims in the In Re Turkey Antitrust Litigation case.

Pilgrim pays $100 million

 

 

A group of poultry farmers reached a $100 million settlement with Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation in a class-action lawsuit alleging price-fixing in the broiler chicken industry, according to a filing in an Oklahoma federal court.

Pilgrims is owed by JBS USA.

The settlement is the largest amount ever paid by any single defendant in any of the antitrust cases in the protein industry, according to the filing.

The plaintiffs, including Haff Poultry, Inc. and others, requested preliminary approval of the settlement and certification of the settlement class. 

Under the agreement, Pilgrim’s will pay $100 million in cash and refrain from including arbitration clauses or class action waivers in contracts with settlement class members for five years.

The defendants sought to dismiss Aramark’s case, arguing that the claims were time-barred under the statute of limitations. However, on Friday, a federal court denied their motion to dismiss, ruling that the statute of limitations had been paused by the timely filing of the initial class action in December 2019. 

The class action, which involves direct purchasers of turkey products, is still awaiting a decision on class certification, with a hearing scheduled for October. 

The judge gave Aramark until Sept. 6 to file an amended complaint.

Food inflation tumbles

 

Food inflation came in at 2.1 per cent for July, for the first time in a year registering less than the overall rate of inflation which was 2.5 per cent.

P&H to build at Picton

 

Parrish & Heimbecker has announced that construction will begin this fall on a new grain elevator at its port at Picton.

It is due to open in 2026 and the company said it will reduce wait times and traffic congestion on Highway 401.

Parrish & Heimbecker is one of the largest agriculture businesses in Ontario with a network of grain elevators, feed and flour mills, chicken, turkey and egg operations.

U.S. cattle need CFIA ok

 

The Canadian Food Inspection agency now is requiring new certifications for U.S. cattle entering Canada after a stay of fewer than 60 days, including an export certification statement signed by a veterinarian that the cattle have tested negative for influenza A virus.

The certification covers cattle entering Canada after spending seven days in the United States in addition to confirming that the cattle have not been on a farm where other animals or birds that have tested positive for exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), CFIA added. Imported U.S. cattle also must be physically fit for transport and loaded onto clean vehicles or containers under the expanded rules.

Canadian officials implemented import measures for cattle this spring after a series of H5N1 outbreaks among U.S. dairy cattle that so far has spread to 13 states that have reported a total of 192 confirmed cases since outbreaks were first reported in March, according to USDA. No cases of H5N1 infections have been confirmed in dairy cattle in Canada so far, the CFIA said.

More wind farms coming

 

In a dramatic policy reversal, Premier Doug Ford now says he wants to more than double wind power electricity generation.

But unlike the Liberals who over-ruled local municipal councils, he will grant them a veto on proposed projects. So far about 150 have enacted bylaws opposing them.

When Ford took office, he cancelled projects that were in process under the Liberals.

The Ford government has apparently realized it will need more electricity to power the electric cars it wants to be made in Ontar

The change in policy is being directed by cabinet member Stephen Lecce who was shifted from education to energy earlier this summer.

Class action lawsuit over paraquat filed

Siskinds law firm has filed a class-action lawsuit against Syngenta. on behalf of people whose health has been impaired by paraquat pesticide.

There is already a similar lawsuit in Quebec. So this one applies to people anywhere else in Canada.

Parkinson’s disease is named as one of the potential results of exposure to paraquat made with active ingredient Gramaxone.

The lawsuit is also open to close relatives such as spouses, children parents and siblings.

Gary Bowers wins award

Gary Bowers has won the Dairy Industry Distinction Award from lactanet.

He is a Jersey breeder who has developed many elite cow Millie’s and bulls for AI studs.

The lactanet board of directors said he is a born leader who has been involved in the dairy industry for 40 years.

He has served on local provincial and national Jersey associations, on Dairy Farmers of Canada and Semex,

BIC included in funding

 

BioIndustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) is among 13 recipients of $6.5 million from the federal and Ontario agriculture departments to undertake innovative projects.

 

BIC project manager Michael Faba said the money is supporting pre-commercial research.

He said the idea is to process a low value material, from a farm or food production facility, and turn it into something useful.

BIC is located in an industrial innovation park at Alvinston.

"We're not getting into the large-scale commercialization opportunities or facilities yet, but this is everything from proof of concept at lab scale to some more advanced lab bench work," said Faba.

 "We might get into early pilotation where we're starting to move things off the bench and really scale things up."

"The project in Alvinston is working on novel or new soil amendments for growing various crops," he said. "In doing so, they're using a residual material that's also produced from agriculture. 

“So, it's making things more of a cyclical model from the field to the field. Overall, it lowers their carbon footprint in doing so. This is a nationally focused program however, as projects scale up and with the expertise and facilities that we have in Sarnia-Lambton, there's always the potential that something could come here, and site here, and create jobs."

Faba said there are also projects in the works in places like Guelph, Waterloo, Toronto and Nova Scotia.