New online tool for organic farmers
A new online system aimed at helping new farmers achieve certified organic status will receive $117,000 from the federal and British Columbia governments.
The Certified Organic Associations of B.C. will lead the development of the online system.
Members include more than 560 farms producing certified organic goods and about 100 farms in transition to organic production.
The sector includes livestock, dairy, vegetables, fruit and berries, spice and herbs, grain and seeds, and specialty value-added products.
A pilot project will launch next year and is scheduled for full implementation in January 2018.
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The streamlined process will save producers time through more accurate data and improve opportunities within the organic sector for expansion.
It will consult with growers and stakeholders over the coming months to ensure that the project considers stakeholder needs.
All food and beverage products marketed as “organic” in B.C. will have to be certified under either a provincial or national certification program by 2018.
Organic grain research receives funding
Organic grain research at the University of Manitoba is receiving $366,000 in funding from the federal and Manitoba governments.
The money will be used to replace field equipment, including cultivators for grain, corn and beans, a comb-cutter, manure spreader, seeder and tractor.
Both governments will also provide $50,000 for two years of organic research at the university.
The university is celebrating 25 years of organic research, which undertook Canada’s first study to compare organic and conventional crop production.
Topics of study include weed and fertility management, cereal crop breeding for organic production and reduced tillage management.
Genome Prairie board elects chair, vice-chair
David Gauthier is the new chair of Genome Prairie. He replaces retiring chair Arnold Naimark.
Gauthier has experience in research management, economic development, sector innovation and government relations.
He is currently the regional director of Natural Products Canada, a national centre of excellence for commercialization and research.
He graduated from Queen’s University before joining the National Research Council Canada’s industrial research assistance program as regional director.
As well, he has been vice-president of Foragen Technologies Management Inc., chief executive officer of the Entrepreneurial Foundation of Saskatchewan and director of business development with Performance Plants Inc.
Since 2012, Gauthier has operated a private consulting firm focused on business investment and technology commercialization.
As well, Gerald Brown has been elected vice-chair of Genome Prairie.
He has more than 30 years of experience in agricultural biology, agronomy, intellectual property protection and the development and commercialization of new and innovative products.
Most recently he was director of marketing and commercialization with the Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise, which is focused on the mid-stage development and commercialization of vaccines for infectious diseases.
