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Federal government invests $1M in new markets for sugar beets
An aspartic acid manufacturing facility in Taber, Alberta will be partially funded with $1 million in repayable funds from the Government of Canada. Locally grown sugar beets will be used.
June 2, 2008 By AAFC
May 30, 2008
Taber, Alberta – The Government of
Canada is contributing $1 million in repayable funding to establish an aspartic
acid manufacturing facility in Taber, Alberta. The plant will use locally grown
sugar beets to produce aspartic acid – a key ingredient in environmentally friendly
products used in the oil, detergent and water treatment industries. The
announcement was made by the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human
Resources and Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Gerry Ritz,
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat
Board.
"This Government is making sure
our farmers have the resources they need to remain ahead of the innovation
curve,"{ said Minister Solberg. "The innovative, cutting-edge, green
technology, being established here in Taber will bring long-term returns to the
environment, the economy and our farmers."
Under this project, Flexible Solutions,
Ltd. will renovate an existing facility and install equipment to produce aspartic
acid. The facility will use sugar beets grown in Alberta as the primary
feedstock. Aspartic acid, produced in Taber, will be processed further into
thermal polyaspartic acid (TPA). TPA is further processed into biodegradable
anti-scalents, corrosion inhibitors and dispersants used in a variety of
industrial and consumer products including oil fields and industrial water
treatment products to increase the life cycle of machinery.
"We are very grateful for this
important federal government contribution towards our project," said Dan
O’Brien, CEO of Flexible Solutions International. "This funding will allow us to
enhance our manufacturing facilities to maximise the production of sugar beets
and open new market opportunities for Canadian growers."
This project is supported under
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Agri-Opportunities Program which
enhances the competitiveness and prosperity of our agricultural sector by
supporting the commercialization of new agri-products, processes and services.
For more information on the Agri-Opportunities program please visit
www.agr.gc.ca (under Programs and Services).
