Canada: CWB to provide funding for organic research and market development

The CWB announced it will contribute up to $200,000 a year to a new research and market development initiative designed to strengthen Western Canada’s organic grain industry, according to its press release, August 9.

“Our goal is to have the organic grain sector do the kind of research that’s proved indispensable to conventional agriculture,” said President and CEO Greg Arason. “The CWB supports a variety of research and development projects for conventional wheat and barley such as research into grain storage at the University of Manitoba and value-added processing at Agri-Food Discovery Place in Alberta. We’re extending that support to a part of the grain industry that shows enormous potential for growth.”

Arason added that there are few other funding sources for organic agriculture and agri-food projects. “This initiative is intended to turn that around,” he said. “The money the organic grain sector will be able to access through the CWB will be significant in its own right. It will also allow groups to leverage matching funds through government programs such as the federal Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program (ACAAF).

The first deadline for project proposals is November 1, 2007. Preference will be given to organizations with a public mandate such as producer groups, research institutions and certification bodies. Funding for the OSMDI will come from the CWB’s operating budget.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada’s biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.

10 August, 2007