|
Alberta, Canada
March 6, 2009
The Government of Canada is
investing in research that will boost the economy and help
Canadian farmers harness new market opportunities in the
biofuels sector. Federal
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and MP Rick Casson
(Lethbridge) today announced a $15.5 million investment in the
Canadian Triticale Biorefinery Initiative (CTBI) research
network.
"Since day one this Government has focussed on helping Canadian
agriculture thrive at the farm gate," said federal Agriculture
Minister Gerry Ritz. "This network will generate economic growth
at home and help position Canada as a leader in triticale
production research abroad."
Triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye that can be used to
produce a more valuable and renewable source of ethanol
feedstock which will be grown and supplied by Canadian farmers.
The network will also find new ways of developing triticale
plants for its biomaterials, which can be used in the Canadian
manufacturing industry.
"In a time of economic instability, this Government is acting to
bring new market opportunities to Canadian farmers," said Mr.
Casson. "I am proud to be part of a Government that supports
projects aimed to boost the bottom line for Canadian farmers,
increase revenue for farmers, and bring high quality jobs to
rural Canada."
Led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Alberta Agriculture
and Rural Development, the network currently includes 30
projects involving more than 90 scientists from the Alberta
Research Council, Carleton University, Centre de recherche sur
les grains, Concordia University, École Polytechnique de
Montréal, the University of Alberta, the University of
Lethbridge and GreenField Ethanol.
"The Alberta government is committed to our agriculture
industry's long term success," said George Groeneveld,
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister. "Our triticale work
is helping to diversify and pursue non-traditional markets while
advancing technologies for other crops."
Funding for this project is being provided through Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada's Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation
Program (ABIP), a federal program that integrates Canada's
talent from universities, industry and government to stimulate
creativity, leverage investments, reduce costs and accelerate
commercialization of bioproducts and bioprocesses to create new
opportunities and long-term stability for Canadian farm
families.
For additional information about ABIP, please visit
www.agr.gc.ca/abip. |
|
