Cdn. gov’t invests in green agri-tech

Jun 17, 2021

The Agricultural Clean Technology Program will support the research and adoption of environmentally sustainable technologies by farms and agri-businesses

By Jackie Clark
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Farmers and agri-businesses can now apply for funding from the $165.7 million Agricultural Clean Technology Program, according to a June 16 release from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

Successful applicants “will have access to funding to help develop and adopt the latest clean technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance their competitiveness,” said a June 4 AAFC release, initially announcing the program.

The Agricultural Clean Technology Program contains two streams: The Adoption Stream and The Research and Innovation Stream. Projects under both streams will prioritize green energy, precision agriculture, and bioeconomy solutions, according to AAFC.

The Adoption Stream will run for five years, until 2025. “Eligible recipients will have access to non-repayable contributions for projects that are at least $50,000 in total cost. AAFC will contribute up to 50% for projects with for-profit recipients and up to 75% for not-for-profit recipients,” the June 4 release explained.

The government has specifically allocated $50 million for purchasing more efficient grain dryers and $10 million for moving away from diesel to cleaner energy sources under The Adoption Stream. For-profit and not-for-profit organizations, as well as individuals, sole proprietors, and Indigenous groups across Canada can apply for funding under this stream.

The Research and Innovation Stream, however, is only open to Canadian for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous groups, and will run until 2028. This stream aims to “support pre-market innovation including research, development, demonstration and commercialization of agricultural clean technologies,” said the June 16 release.

Canadian farmers and agri-food business owners "constantly innovate and find new approaches to sustainably feed Canada and the world,” said Neil Ellis, parliamentary secretary to the minister of agriculture and agri-food. “Through the new Agricultural Clean Technology program, the Government of Canada is continuing to support their efforts by encouraging research, development and adoption of clean technologies to help protect the environment and grow their businesses.”

Individuals and organizations can apply continuously until all the funding has been committed. To learn more about eligibility and application for the Adoption Stream, click here, and for the Research and Innovation Stream, click here.

sasapanchenko\iStock\Getty Images Plus photo

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.