PrairiesCan support will help create economic opportunities through clean technology innovation, manufacturing and agriculture
Managing organic waste can be costly, land-intensive, and difficult for many rural and Indigenous communities, particularly when it attracts unwanted wildlife. New clean technology is addressing these problems by turning organic waste into valuable resources that support food production, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.
Today, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development), on behalf of the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced an investment of $855,000 through PrairiesCan for Cowessess Ventures Ltd. (CVL) to build a rapid composting and bio-fertilizer facility on Cowessess First Nation (Cowessess).
CVL is working in partnership with B-Nature Biotech (B-Nature) and Pro Metal Industries (Pro Metal) to develop an Indigenous-led circular economy initiative that combines advanced organic waste management, local food production, and Indigenous-owned manufacturing. As part of the project, CVL will also install and operate a growing dome for year-round food production. Compost and fertilizer produced through the rapid composting system will provide low-cost nutrients to boost greenhouse and agricultural production.
B-Nature and CVL worked together to design a system that will help Cowessess enhance food production on their own land, divert organic waste from landfills, and mitigate issues with bears accessing garbage. Pro Metal is contributing to the design and manufacture of the bear-proof organics bins and composting infrastructure.
Together with the new year-round dome greenhouse, the new composting process closes the nutrient loop on Cowessess and can be easily scaled for use on other First Nations and rural and communities.
The partnership between CVL, B-Nature and Pro Metal is:
- Improving and expanding composting to support agriculture productivity and enhance sustainable economic development
- Creating new jobs for Indigenous people in manufacturing, facility operations, compost distribution, and agri-tech services
- Contributing to economic development, food production and clean-tech enterprises that can serve other rural and Indigenous communities
