BMO funds ag literacy
The University of Calgary plans to launch a program to change how society perceives and interacts with the food system, funded by a $1 million donation from BMO.
The program, called Ag Literacy for Healthier People and Planet, will “help build understanding about the complexities of the agricultural system” and the role food plays in healthy people and planet, the university said in a news release.
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The university’s Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy will research and do outreach on the food system over about five years “to foster a deeper understanding of the food choices we make and inform the design of agricultural policies,” it said.
This will be done in partnership with 13 Canadian universities and Stanford University in the United States.
“The program will deliver a variety of written, digital resources to educate the public on controversial issues in the food system such as the use of genetic modification, pesticides and food labels, also surveying consumer knowledge and actively engaging with citizens,” the news release said.
“The program is designed to reach a broad range of audiences, including formal stakeholders such as research, industry and government, as well as informal audiences such as consumers and citizens,” said Guillaume Lhermie, director of the Simpson Centre.
Feds fund organic marketing
The Canada Organic Trade Association will receive up to $1,175,841 in federal funding over three years through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriMarketing program.
The funding will help COTA host and participate in international trade shows, strengthen advocacy efforts, engage in global forums, provide export assistance, offer data insights and enhance information sharing.
