Features Business & Policy Markets
Farms and food processors suppliers of energy and new products

March 4, 2008

London, ON -Interest by both the farm and food processing sectors in opportunities to either conserve energy or to develop sources of renewable energy is growing. Improving their bottom lines is the ultimate goal.

This is the focus of a major conference and exhibition, Growing the Margins: Energy, Bioproducts and Byproducts from Farm and Food Sectors to be held at the London Convention Centre, April 1-5, 2008. Organizations wishing to learn more about the economic and environmental benefits of expanding operations beyond traditional crop, meat and food production to becoming suppliers of energy and new bioproducts and byproducts won’t want to miss this important event.

"Growing the Margins will provide a comprehensive and valuable 5-day program of activities catering to a variety of interests," says John McMullen, Conference Chair. First is the Germany/Ontario Networking Forum, April 1. "A number of German and other European companies have expressed interest in developing markets for their leading-edge biogas and other renewable energy technologies in Canada, and specifically in Ontario. The Forum is designed to bring them together with organizations from Ontario in order to explore these opportunities and the partnerships needed to make them happen," according to McMullen.

The next day is set aside for guided tours of biogas, biomass, wind, solar and other operating projects in SW Ontario. Technology tours at last year’s inaugural Growing the Margins Conference were sold out.

During the Conference itself, April 3-4, keynote speakers will provide insight to what is happening in this field, not just in Canada but also in the US and Europe. The program also includes over 70 informative presentations tackling the technological, operating, policy, regulatory, financial and other challenges and opportunities facing farms and related food processing and rural industries as they strive to improve their energy efficiency and better utilize byproducts.

Growing the Margins is made possible by its lead supporter, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, with additional support from many other private and public sector organizations.

The day following the Conference is reserved for a special workshop, Digging Into Biogas Details: A Practical Discussion on Steps in Designing and Constructing Agricultural or Agri-Food Based Biogas Systems. Presented by AgriEnergy Producers’ Association Ontario together with OMAFRA and Ministry of Energy, this interactive workshop is intended to equip farmers and food processors with the tools and resources to effectively take the first steps in designing and constructing an agricultural or agri-food based biogas system.

"Anyone interested in learning more about the Conference and associated program activities should check out the web site at www.gtmconf.ca," suggests McMullen.