Sask. firms get funding
Ag-West Bio Inc. has invested $500,000 in two Saskatchewan companies: Guardian Biotechnologies Inc. and Northern Quinoa Corp.
The investments were made through Ag-West Bio’s commercialization fund, which is designed to support early-stage life science companies in Saskatchewan.
The investments include a $200,000 commitment over two years to Northern Quinoa’s HeadsUp plant protectants, which will support further market development of a natural seed treatment shown to stimulate natural disease defences in plants.
Guardian Biotechnologies Inc. is working to develop an edible vaccine for the poultry industry to protect against coccidiosis, responsible for global economic losses valued at more than $3 billion per year.
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Ag-West Bio will invest $300,000 over the next three years to help pay for feasibility studies into market size, intellectual property protection and regulations and product development.
B.C. funds small projects
After a successful pilot program, the Investment Agriculture Foundation in British Columbia has doubled its funding commitment to the small projects program. The new funding cap has been set at $10,000.
The small projects program addresses the needs of smaller industry organizations that undertake lower cost projects.
Funding access has been made more efficient by reducing paperwork at both the application and report stages of the project. Twenty-five small projects have been funded.
They included demonstration projects, applied research, speaker costs, marketing plans and educational projects. Funding grants varied from $500 to $5,000.
The foundation is a non-profit organization responsible for the distribution of federal and provincial funds to innovative projects that benefit B.C.’s agrifood industry.
For more information, visit the foundation’s website at www.iafbc.ca or call 250-356-1662.
Ag and Food Council officials
Marilyn Sharp has been re-elected chair of the Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta.
Sharp became the council’s first female chair when she was elected from the ranks of the 26-member council at the 2005 annual general meeting. The Lacombe, Alta., resident has extensive experience in the agriculture and food sector and has been an AFC council member since 2002.
Others elected to the council include Kim Schmitt, first vice-chair; Jim Smith, second vice-chair; Bob Anderson, secretary-treasurer; and Paul Thiel, advancing Canadian agriculture and agri-food chair.
Newly elected members beginning their three-year terms include Heather Broughton, John Kennelly, Mike Leslie, Larry Malazdrewicz, Ken Moholitny and Gary Sargent.
David Buck was elected to a two-year term after completing a one-year appointment, and Doug Livingstone was elected to serve a second three-year term. Leona Dargis, a student at Olds College, will be the council’s student member for 2006-07.
