Got an innovative idea for agriculture in BC? Well, the government may just be willing to pay you for it.
Ottawa and Victoria are pouring an additional $10.4 million dollars into the creation of new products or improved practices in BC's agrifood industry.
That boost literally quadruples the budget for the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program, which now stands at $13.4 million. The money will be used to support innovative product development from now until 2018.
Already, in the first year of operation, the program has invested $1.9 million in a variety of projects, from transforming agricultural waste into value added products, to developing a new cider in the Okanagan.
Some of the projects approved so far include:
- The BX Press Inc was awarded $46,451 for a project that plans to demonstrate that adding hard cider and blended cider to an Okanagan orchard operation will provide farmers a true value-added opportunity with strong market demand;
- Merridale Ciderworks Corp was awarded $39,050 for a project that will use available B.C. agricultural products to create new world-class spirits, and then develop and expand the market focusing on historical craft distilling methods.
To be eligible, applicants must be appropriately registered, licensed and/or certified to conduct business in BC. For more information go to: http://iafbc.ca/agri-innovation.htm
