An $11 million fund has been established to enhance the Alberta livestock industry’s competitive edge.
The fund is managed by the Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund, a producer-guided not-for-profit agency. Money will be directed at research, market development and producer and consumer education.
“It’s a great initiative to have nine commodity groups working together for the betterment of the entire industry,” said Darcy Fitzgerald, manager of the Nisku-based agency.
The poultry, hog and cattle groups selected a five-member board of directors: Norm Kuntz of Strathmore, cattle feeder, chair; Bob Christie of Stavely, cow-calf operator; Jack Moerman of Redwater, pork producer; Don Sundgaard of Standard, poultry producer; and Ed Oosterhof of Coaldale, representing the dairy industry.
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The board will approve funding for environmental research, food safety, quality assurance programs, animal welfare concerns, value-added initiatives, tracking and containing of disease outbreaks, and communication programs.
Money came from a government surplus dating back four years. Ed Stelmach, provincial ag minister at the time, proposed some of this surplus go to a livestock program.
Fitzgerald said the agency hopes to pull in matching grants from the federal government as well as private money.
