| | New growing forward programs | Centre for Research and Innovation | New Alberta Meat Livestock Agency (ALMA) programs | Health Canada: salt reduction guidelines
New Growing Forward Programs
Growing Forward initiatives to increase your profitability and strengthen your competitive position.
Agri-business and Product Development Grant
This grant program is designed to support agri-businesses that want to commercialize a product, create healthier products or ingredients, or expand their business. Eligible projects include: feasibility studies, market research, product development, label and package design and promotional material development.
Agri-business Automation and Lean Manufacturing Grant
This grant program is designed to support Alberta processors and producers to create productivity improvements through cost reductions and increases in operational efficiencies. The program encourages the adoption of best practices and new technologies and state-of-the-art processes that improve food safety, food quality and increase value and market access.
Business Opportunity Grant
This grant program is designed to assist small agri-businesses in accessing expertise to adapt their business to the changing business environment. Risk management consultants, agri-business advisory services and business management coaches are some of the eligible costs.
Individual businesses can receive a maximum of $15,000 of the eligible costs on a 75:25 government/applicant cost shared basis. When the project benefits a group or industry sector, costs will be shared on a 90:10 government/applicant basis.
How to Apply for these programs:
A detailed project proposal for each grant must be submitted as part of the application process. For more information and to view the project proposal requirements, visit www.growingforward.alberta.ca. To be put in touch with an Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development specialist for assistance, call 310-FARM.
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Centre for Research and Innovation
Intellectual Property Services Workshop Presented by Doug Thompson, Lawyer
Grande Prairie- May 20
Contact Jenn Vos at 780-539-2807
New Alberta Meat Livestock Agency (ALMA) Programs
Programs will help meat processors “be bold” with their investment decisions
Two new agri-business programs will be formally announced soon with potential to stimulate business and market development for Alberta’s meat food processing industry. These are in addition to five previously announced programs aimed at the entire livestock and meat industry.
As part of a broad suite of programs, these two additional programs totaling $10 million will be delivered by the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA) under the province’s new Growing Forward commitment. Alberta’s Growing Forward programs are a portion of a cost-shared initiative of the federal and provincial governments, and are a part of a national commitment from Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments.
Howard Oudman, Manager of Commercialization for ALMA, says the programs will be an incentive for the industry to be bolder with making important needed investments to help the industry expand and become more competitive.
A total of $8 million in federal and provincial funding will be going towards the Agri-Business Automation and Lean Manufacturing program, which will stimulate more efficient and less-costly production of agri-food products from Alberta producers.
A total of $2 million in federal and provincial funding will be available for the Agri-Business and Product Development program, stimulating new investment and capital expansion in value-added food and agri-product processing sectors.
Oudman said processors who took advantage of previous programs offered by the Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund showed marked improvement in productivity, through technology adoption, process improvements and new product and market development.
ALMA is a catalyst providing direction and advice to revitalize Alberta’s livestock industry through long-term competitiveness and sustainability.
For more information on ALMA, visit www.alma.alberta.ca
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Health Canada: Salt Reduction Guidelines
Similar to the Trans Fat guidelines that were established a few years ago, the Salt Reduction Guidelines and Strategies will be coming out in late Spring 2009 from Health Canada. These guidelines could have great consequences and create new challenges for the food industry. To obtain the full update report on the consultation meeting held by the Sodium Reduction Working Group on February 19, 2009, please contact Shirzad Chunara at 780-422-2550 or shirzad.chunara@gov.ab.ca. For regular updates from Health Canada go to: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/sodium/sodium_report_rapport_20080722-eng.php
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Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
(Dial 310-0000 for toll-free access)
Alberta-Ag-Info Centre 310-FARM
Crop Business Development Branch – 403-340-5322
Livestock Business Development Branch - 403-556-4321
Local/ Domestic Market Expansion Branch - 780-968-3510
Processing Industry Business Development Branch - 403-340-7625
Food News is avilable in pdf format: 156KB |
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