Ontario province funds agricultural and bioenergy research in Northwest
The Ontario government is supporting agricultural research that will advance crop and bioenergy production in Northwestern Ontario's Thunder Bay and Nipigon regions. Bill Mauro announced the initiative on behalf of Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), designed to foster job creation and strengthen the economies of northern communities, will invest $675,000 to help the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Association investigate research in four major areas: biomass production, medicinal plants, sustainability of production systems and crop nutrition.
The Thunder Bay area and the Northwest (map, click to enlarge) is considered an agricultural frontier that presents unique challenges to the production of certain crops.
Other investments announced by the NOHFC incude:
"We are looking forward to the results of this ambitious agricultural research. We are optimistic that it could create opportunities for the development of regional industries aimed at processing, marketing and adding value to local farm products," said Bill Mauro.
These initiatives are part of the government’s Northern Prosperity Plan for building stronger northern communities. It has four pillars: Strengthening the North and its Communities; Listening to and Serving Northerners Better; Competing Globally; and Providing Opportunities for All.
References:
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines: Ontario Supports Nipigon Diversification Efforts - August 31, 2007
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines: Province Funds Agricultural Research In Northwest - August 30, 2007.
Chronicle Journal, Thunderbay: Farmers score with canola - August 30, 2007.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), designed to foster job creation and strengthen the economies of northern communities, will invest $675,000 to help the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Association investigate research in four major areas: biomass production, medicinal plants, sustainability of production systems and crop nutrition.
The Thunder Bay area and the Northwest (map, click to enlarge) is considered an agricultural frontier that presents unique challenges to the production of certain crops.
- One of the initiatives involves biomass production – turning biomass crops into liquid, solid and gaseous biofuels.
- Another initiative will look at sustainability by testing how manure, wood ash and lime interact with fertilizer to grow crops.
- A third initiative involves testing soil to determine what effect nutrients like zinc and magnesium have on corn, soybeans and alfalfa.
- And the fourth will determine the benefits of local medicinal plants.
Other investments announced by the NOHFC incude:
- Providing $6 million to Lakehead University, which is building capacity that will support the competitive and sustainable development of Ontario’s boreal forest
- Providing $355,974 to Lakehead University, in partnership with Bowater Canadian Forest Products and the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada, for the development of new testing apparatus that would measure the polluting effects of pulp and paper mill waste water
- Establishing the Forest Sector Prosperity Fund, part of the $1-billion plan to help forest companies invest in their own future and the future of the communities that depend on them.
"We are looking forward to the results of this ambitious agricultural research. We are optimistic that it could create opportunities for the development of regional industries aimed at processing, marketing and adding value to local farm products," said Bill Mauro.
These initiatives are part of the government’s Northern Prosperity Plan for building stronger northern communities. It has four pillars: Strengthening the North and its Communities; Listening to and Serving Northerners Better; Competing Globally; and Providing Opportunities for All.
References:
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines: Ontario Supports Nipigon Diversification Efforts - August 31, 2007
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines: Province Funds Agricultural Research In Northwest - August 30, 2007.
Chronicle Journal, Thunderbay: Farmers score with canola - August 30, 2007.
2 Comments:
super interressant ton blog !
Merci beaucoup, et bientôt il y aura une version française. En tout cas, nous espérons que nos moyens nous le permettront.
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