The federal government has pledged more than $21 million to Alberta’s value-added sector for product and service development and commercialization.
“Today’s investments will help Alberta organizations and companies make even more advancements in the field of value-added agriculture, helping to further diversify our economy while creating sustainable jobs in our communities,” said Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal in a news release.
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Weigum’s work with Alect Seeds earns her Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmer award
Three Hills farmer earns Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers award through marketing of Alect Seeds to bring the best varieties and crop types to their customers and improve the quality of the land they farm.
Olds College is receiving more than $3 million to expand its Smart Farm operations into Saskatchewan and to purchase research equipment.
Pure Life Carbon, an Edmonton-based company that produces growing mediums, such as greenhouses, will receive more than $2 million to expand its manufacturing facility.
The Alberta Bio Processing Innovation Centre and the Alberta Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator are to receive a combined $1,125,000 to purchase and install new equipment. Both organizations help small and medium-sized businesses develop and scale products.
Alexander Business Corp. will receive $146,800 to study the feasibility of two plant-based protein opportunities for Alexander First Nation, including a possible nation-owned production facility.
Satellite imaging firm Wyvern and the Stettler Adult Learning Centre are among other funded organizations.
The federal government touted the projects as having “significant environmental and economic benefits,” including supporting more than 800 jobs.
Manitoba Hog company enters receivership
The Court of Kings Bench in Winnipeg granted an order last month appointing BDO Canada Ltd. as receiver and manager for Genesus Inc., Genesus Genetics and Can-Am Genetics Inc.
Genesus Inc. and Can-Am Genetics operate out of Oakville, Man., while Genesus Genetics, Inc. is incorporated in South Dakota, court records show.
According to an affidavit filed by a Bank of Montreal (BMO) representative, the bank held mortgages for Genesus and Can-Am.
Both companies were unable to meet their repayment obligations.
In September, BMO agreed to delay enforcement of security against the two companies under certain forbearance conditions.
In October, Can-Am sold a piece of property in St. Andrews, Man., to repay a portion of its debts. However, the affidavit alleges that Genesus has not reduced its debt to BMO and did not adhere to all requirements of the forbearance agreement.
It also says that during the forbearance period Genesus indicated it was struggling to meet its payroll obligations.
On its website, Genesus bills itself as “the world’s largest independent producer of high health registered purebred swine in the world, owning more than 80 per cent of all registered purebred breeding stock in Canada.”
According to court records, Genesus had approximately 61 employees at the beginning of the year and about 17,700 hogs. Can-Am Genetics had approximately 13 employees.
