While visiting Anaergia Inc. in Burlington, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced federal support for 55 new projects for the development and adoption of clean technologies by agricultural businesses in Ontario.
This $24.1-million investment is under the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program. These initiatives will allow farmers to increase their competitiveness and reduce their carbon footprint and allow innovators to develop new technologies with a high environmental impact.
One example is Anaergia Inc.'s project. They received up to more than $1.7 million through the ACT - Research and Innovation Stream to develop advanced processes that pre-treat source separated organic waste. Through the development and adoption of two clean technologies, it is expected that this project will help to improve the treatment of organic waste and feedstock for anaerobic digesters, providing a source of renewable energy and fertilizer for on-farm use.
This new investment brings the province-wide total to more than $39 million supporting 97 ACT Program projects to date.
The ACT Program is already helping hundreds of farmers with contributions of at least $50,000 to adopt clean technologies, including new grain dryers or barn heating systems. For example, E. Barlow Farms Inc., a 180-year-old family operated cash crop farm in York, received up to $177,353 under the Adoption Stream, to purchase and install a new mix flow grain dryer. As a result, the use of propane in the drying process will be reduced by 46%.
The Government of Canada continues to invest in research, development and adoption of clean technology to help the agriculture sector support a low-carbon economy, while feeding a growing population.
