OLDS — Olds College and area company officials are grateful for their share of more than $21 million worth of federal funding for agriculture-related businesses and initiatives announced recently.
The July 3 announcement, regarding money for 14 recipients across Alberta – including in central Alberta -- was made in the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology’s Smart Farm Operations Centre.
Dan Vandal, the minister for PrairiesCan (also known as Prairies Economic Development Canada) made the announcement before about 75 people gathered in a garage in the facility.
He said the money could create as many as 800 jobs.
Olds College received $3,017,720 to expand its Smart Farm operations into Saskatchewan and increase its ability to research agricultural challenges faced on the Prairies.
In addition, it received $2,378,900 to help agriculture-focused start-ups get going with help from THRIVE Canada.
The money also helped upgrade facilities to provide space for small and medium-sized ag businesses to showcase their innovations.
Pure Life Carbon, based in Red Deer County, received $2,071,828 to upgrade its manufacturing plant to increase production of its product, media for plants to grow in for greenhouse or vertical farming.
Behind Vandal and other speakers who addressed the crowd was a giant black tractor that can seed or spray a field or undertake other farming-related operations entirely autonomously (without a driver in the cab).
It seemed symbolic of the aim of the money, which is to spur ag start-ups, especially those that can lead to a greener, more efficient ag industry.
“It is fantastic news for the college and for the agricultural community in all of the Prairies,” Olds College president Ben Cecil said during an interview with the Albertan.
He said the money invested in the college will support local businesses in Olds and area.
Cecil said in essence, the goal of Olds College and its Smart Farm is to support a strong agricultural economy in Alberta through research and innovative technology.
“Quite frankly, helping feed the world is exactly what Olds College is about,” he said.
“We’re really, really pleased that we’re contributing to that economy, and the investment that the government is making in Olds College validates the work that we do every day.”
Olds College board chair Al Kemmere was also pleased by the announcement.
“I think it’s a future-based decision,” Kemmere said. “PrairiesCan has been very engaged with the college and with the Smart Farm over the years and this just shows their ongoing commitment.
“This allows the Smart Farm to continue down its path of development of new technology or testing of technology, so to me, it’s huge,” he said.
He added that the announcement “shows almost a billion dollars worth of revenue coming out of products that are developed through the Smart Farm testing program.”
Olds College vice-president of research, Joy Agnew, said PrairiesCan was an early supporter of the Smart Farm, established six years ago.
She said the federal money that was announced was a demonstration of that support.
Brad Fournier, director of business development for Pure Life Carbon, welcomed the money that company received.
He said Pure Life creates “the world’s only carbon substrate” for use in greenhouse or vertical types of farming.
Fournier said growers who use Pure Life’s product are helping to “significantly” reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use 15 to 50 per cent less water.
He said growers who use the product, such as those in the cannabis and tomato growing industries, are seeing a 70 to 100 per cent increase in their production.
“Thanks to PrairiesCan, we are actually able to increase the efficiency in automation of our processing facility which is just north of the college here in Red Deer County,” Fournier said.
Fournier said the money is helping the company deliver its product as far afield as Saudi Arabia.
In fact, he said a Saudi Arabian facility using the product is now producing so many tomatoes – about 110 tons per day – that they’re being shipped to the Netherlands.
“So what was once known as the king of all things greenhouse is now being supplied by Saudi Arabia through the exporter,” he said.
During his announcement of the federal money, Vandal said the money is the result of about six months of consultation with those in the agricultural industry.
“By building on Alberta’s strengths in clean resource development, agriculture, manufacturing and the service industry, we can work together so nobody is left behind,” he said.
Vandal noted he’s a Prairie boy himself. He represents a Manitoba riding.
RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation, welcomed the announcement.
“Alberta’s government appreciates the support for projects that will help local businesses develop and market Alberta’s world-class, value-added products, services and technology,” he said.
“Alberta’s value-added agricultural sector is essential to the economic growth and development in our province.
“It employs thousands of Albertans, attracts international investment and allows us to export our products to markets around the world.
“This PrairieCan funding is helping Alberta create the right conditions to continue to grow this sector and continue for us to be well positioned to respond to the growing global demand for food security and food affordability.”
After the speeches were over, a tour of the Smart Farm was undertaken.
