Money for Organic Farming

NS: Feds give $6.5M to support growth of organic farming
By Jason Malloy, Transcontinental Media

Source: The Truro Daily News, September 2, 2010

[BIBLE HILL, NS] — Canadian scientists will collaborate during the next two-and-a-half years to try to develop more efficient and profitable processes for organic farmers.

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced the $6.5-million investment Wednesday morning at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Bible Hill. Industry is also contributing $2.2 million towards the project.

“We’ve got lots of work to do. Now we can do it,” said Ralph Martin, founding director of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada located on the NSAC campus.

He explained the organic science cluster has identified 10 sub projects to undertake. Those sub projects include 30 research activities to be conducted by 50 researchers and 30 collaborators at 45 institutions in nine provinces across the country. Research will focus on things like soil fertility, greenhouse production, dairy production systems, parasite control and food processing.

“We’re bringing the best and the brightest together from academia … government and industry to get them all rowing in the same direction and ultimately help grow the markets for our organic producers,” Ritz said. “By collaborating in this way we get a bigger bang for our research buck and better and faster results for our producers.”


Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced $6.5 million for organic farming Wednesday in Bible Hill. The announcement was made in the orchard at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. — Jason Malloy, Truro Daily News photo

Martin estimated about 20 per cent of the funds would be spent at the Bible Hill centre.

Thirty years ago some people considered farmers who talked about organic products as outsiders, fringe groups or hippies. But it has grown to be accepted and demanded by consumers across the country and around the world.

“There’s no question the long-term outlook is bright, with the increasing consumer demands for foods that enhance their health and the environment,” Ritz said.

He added in the past two years, Canadians have increased their spending on organic products by $800 million to $2 billion last year.

“That’s tremendous market growth and it’s something that this government wants to support because we know when farmers succeed the whole economy benefits,” Ritz said.

The research results are also expected to benefit conventional farmers as well.