British Columbia (B.C.) agritech companies are partnering with the federal and provincial governments to find the perfect pairing between food and technology.

A number of innovative projects are receiving investments under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

B.C. pears are a delicacy, though their ripening time makes it difficult for British Columbians to enjoy this fruit consistently. Consolidated Fruit Packers Ltd. (CFP) of Kelowna is eager to change that by bringing innovative new methods to the Canadian pear market.

Pears are a unique fruit because they are one of only a few fruit species that do not ripen on the tree. They require time for the sugars to develop off the branch, which can pose a challenge for consumers eager to enjoy a local pear. CFP is studying the process required to create a pre-conditioned pear that consumers will be able to take home and enjoy immediately or soon after purchase.

Defining the conditions that create the perfect pear will allow CFP to offer a local pear with a more consistent texture and flavour. Approaching this challenge from another angle, CFP is developing the optimal method of packaging to further enhance the sweet and juicy flavour that B.C. pears are known for, to provide consumers with the best eating experience.

“It’s no secret that B.C. fruit tastes amazing. Finding innovative ways to improve access to pears and grapes for British Columbians while creating neat tools to support our growers, producers and processors is fantastic. It’s wonderful to see new technology supporting communities and industries across the province.”
– Lana Popham, B.C. Minister of Agriculture

“Consolidated Fruit Packers is committed to being the most innovative team in produce with an unwavering commitment to value and taste. The funding through the governments Agri-Innovation Program has provided us the opportunity to push the boundaries in agritech as we create a better eating experience for consumers with ready to eat, delicious local pears.”
– Gord Morrison, category director, Consolidated Fruit Packers

This project is one of many examples of businesses that are partnering with the federal and provincial governments to help British Columbians access more local fruit and support growers and producers.

A project by Vancouver-based Vintality,a subsidiary of Geotronics Consulting Inc., is working with B.C. vineyards and fertilizer companies to boost yields and grape quality while lowering the amount of fertilizer needed to grow grapes.

Geotronics Consulting has designed a fertilizer trailer with GPS technology that will automatically dispense precise amounts of liquid fertilizer to targeted areas on the property thanks to its built-in program. This will reduce the amount of fertilizer and water used in the vineyard while ensuring that the plants are getting the nutrients that they need. The project is designed to increase the competitiveness of B.C.’s grape and wine industries by enhancing the tools growers, producers and processors can access to produce their products for consumers.

The CFP and Vintality projects highlight a small sample of the innovative ideas that B.C.-based organizations are working on to build a more sustainable future. Projects under the Canada-British Columbia Agri-Innovation Program have received nearly $2.6 million in funding from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The partnership is a five-year federal-provincial-territorial agreement that includes $2 billion in cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories, and $1 billion for federal programs and services through March 2023.

“The Canada-B.C. Agri-Innovation Program has given us the support to make our project a reality. Real change and innovation takes a lot of partners and the Agri-Innovation Program has been critical for us in creating this change. We believe B.C. should keep making the best wine that respects the terroir and this is a big step in making that more and more a reality.”
– Chris Mark, operations, Vintality

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Government of Canada)

The post British Columbia wants to find the perfect pairing between food and technology appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“Our Government has an ambitious agenda for Canadian agriculture that starts with smart investments like this, which will demonstrate health benefits of Western crops to Canadians and international consumers. St. Boniface hospital has a world-class teams of researchers who are keeping our province on the competitive edge. With these investments, we are strengthening our agriculture and food sector at every step in order to create good middle class jobs for Manitobans.”
– Dan Vandal, Member of Parliament for Saint-Boniface – Saint Vital, on behalf of Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

As part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing more than $4.8 million for 22 projects under the Ag Action Manitoba Research and Innovation Activity Stream, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler, announced today at the St. Boniface Hospital.

Researchers at the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre will be receiving more than $650,000 to conduct four separate studies on the economic and health related effects of flaxseed and flax milk. Areas of study include the effect of flax milk on chemotherapy side-effects experienced by breast cancer patients; how flax milk can improve arterial hypertension; how memory and cognition are affected by flaxseed; and comparing the effects of fish oil to flax oil.

“Manitoba continues to be a hub for research and innovation, which will help drive the long-term success of Manitoba’s agriculture sector, benefitting farmers, processors and many other stakeholders. Research and innovation are an integral part of agriculture in Manitoba, and will continue to accelerate the rate at which our industry grows.” – Ralph Eichler, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture

The Ag Action Manitoba Research and Innovation Activity Stream provides grant funding for researcher and industry-led projects that contribute to the development of agricultural knowledge and skills and improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Manitoba’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-product sectors.

“We are excited by the opportunity afforded by the Federal and Provincial Governments to our five Principal Investigators here at St. Boniface Hospital to determine if flax can significantly help in the fight against disease and create an economic impact to boost Canadian agribusiness. The opportunity to collaborate with major flax companies in Manitoba, like Pizzeys’ Ingredients, gives us another exciting opportunity to produce important information that will advance the flax field.”  
– Dr. Grant Pierce, Executive Director, St. Boniface Hospital Research

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Government of Canada)

The post Canadian Governments invest more than $4.8 million for agriculture research appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.