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Agricultural by-products receive Governmental support

Jan. 23, 2013, Gander, NL - The Canadian Government is helping create new uses for agricultural and seafood waste that will generate economic and environmental benefits in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Member of Parliament for Labrador, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced an investment that will help turn these by-products into green energy and fertilizer.

"Often the products left over from production processes have value that can create important economic opportunities for producers," said Minister Penashue. "With this investment, our government is helping to enhance the competiveness of Canadian producers in an environmentally sustainable way."

With this total investment of $458,000, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture (NLFA) and Glenview Farms will lead three projects:

  • $170,000 will allow the NLFA to look at the feasibility of creating a concentrated liquid fertilizer from salmon by-products, which could improve soil quality and overall crop performance in both organic and traditional systems.
  • $124,400 will help the NLFA determine the feasibility of using anaerobic digestion technology to recycle organic matter into fertilizer and biogas that can be used as an energy source.
  • $163,600 will allow Glenview Farms to study the use of a filter press process that will extract the water from dairy cattle manure to create a more effective liquid fertilizer and more easily compostable solid waste.

These projects will help farmers find cost-effective and environmentally sustainable approaches to managing their organic waste products and could reduce Newfoundland's dependency on imported fertilizers. Once tested, these new methods and products could benefit producers across Canada.

"We are very excited about the potential results from this collaborative research project. The envisioned technology and partnerships represent an innovative approach to enhancing the day-to-day farm operations in an environmentally sound manner, while ensuring the sector remains competitive," said Robert Walsh, President of Glenview Farms Inc.

The projects are supported through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), a five-year, $163-million initiative to help the Canadian agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. The Newfoundland and Labrador Agri-Adapt Council Inc. delivers the regional component of CAAP in Newfoundland and Labrador.

For more information on the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program and the Newfoundland and Labrador Agri-Adapt Council, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/caap and www.nlfa.ca/aaci.php.

January 23, 2013  By Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada


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