GOVERNMENT OF CANADA CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHEAT FARMERS
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, April 24, 2010 - The Government of Canada is making smart investments to help our wheat farmers stay on the cutting edge of innovation, create new market opportunities, and continue to provide healthy foods for consumers. Bob Dechert, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale, announced today an investment of more than $200,000 to help the Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council (OCIRC) expand the market for whole wheat and wheat-based foods.
"The Government of Canada is helping farmers adapt to a changing marketplace and remain competitive by investing in new innovation that will grow market opportunities," said MP Dechert. "This investment will help boost the farm gate by developing new wheat varieties that respond to consumer demand for healthy food in Canada and around the world."
The OCIRC will work to identify wheat varieties that have high levels of antioxidants and other beneficial health ingredients, develop new food products using these wheat varieties, and evaluate the health benefits after baking and storing the products. Established in 2004, the OCIRC objective is to advance the knowledge of cereal science and foster innovation to increase the use of cereal grains for value-added processes in Ontario.
"Canada has a world leading, $7.6 billion cereal sector, including a full range of wheat grown in Ontario to serve global markets. Having a centre of world class research located at the University of Guelph is fundamental to advance the goal of an innovative cereal processing sector," said Louise Jacques-O'Hare, President of OCIRC. "We appreciate the Government's investment to enable the University's research team to make a positive difference to the health and well-being of Canadians."
Funding for this program is being provided by the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Ontario, CAAP is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC).
"This project will deliver value to wheat breeders, farmers, millers and processors through the identification and development of projects with high nutritional value and thereby assist customers in choosing healthful products," said Jim Rickard, AAC Chair.
CAAP is a five-year (2009-2014), $163 million national initiative that aims to help the Canadian agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. Eligible CAAP projects could be in areas of traceability, environment, climate change, capacity development, pests and diseases, and more.
Canada's Economic Action Plan, coupled with other Government of Canada programs and initiatives such as CAAP, continues to help farmers with its focus on strengthening the economy and creating jobs. Investments in viable market opportunities will help to build an even stronger agriculture industry and Canadian economy.
For more information on CAAP, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/caap. To learn more about AAC, please visit www.adaptcouncil.org.
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For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Nadine Armstrong
Communications Manager
Agricultural Adaptation Council
519-822-7554
James Farrar
Secretary-Treasurer
Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council (OCIRC)
905-945-6791
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, April 24, 2010 - The Government of Canada is making smart investments to help our wheat farmers stay on the cutting edge of innovation, create new market opportunities, and continue to provide healthy foods for consumers. Bob Dechert, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale, announced today an investment of more than $200,000 to help the Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council (OCIRC) expand the market for whole wheat and wheat-based foods.
"The Government of Canada is helping farmers adapt to a changing marketplace and remain competitive by investing in new innovation that will grow market opportunities," said MP Dechert. "This investment will help boost the farm gate by developing new wheat varieties that respond to consumer demand for healthy food in Canada and around the world."
The OCIRC will work to identify wheat varieties that have high levels of antioxidants and other beneficial health ingredients, develop new food products using these wheat varieties, and evaluate the health benefits after baking and storing the products. Established in 2004, the OCIRC objective is to advance the knowledge of cereal science and foster innovation to increase the use of cereal grains for value-added processes in Ontario.
"Canada has a world leading, $7.6 billion cereal sector, including a full range of wheat grown in Ontario to serve global markets. Having a centre of world class research located at the University of Guelph is fundamental to advance the goal of an innovative cereal processing sector," said Louise Jacques-O'Hare, President of OCIRC. "We appreciate the Government's investment to enable the University's research team to make a positive difference to the health and well-being of Canadians."
Funding for this program is being provided by the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Ontario, CAAP is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC).
"This project will deliver value to wheat breeders, farmers, millers and processors through the identification and development of projects with high nutritional value and thereby assist customers in choosing healthful products," said Jim Rickard, AAC Chair.
CAAP is a five-year (2009-2014), $163 million national initiative that aims to help the Canadian agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. Eligible CAAP projects could be in areas of traceability, environment, climate change, capacity development, pests and diseases, and more.
Canada's Economic Action Plan, coupled with other Government of Canada programs and initiatives such as CAAP, continues to help farmers with its focus on strengthening the economy and creating jobs. Investments in viable market opportunities will help to build an even stronger agriculture industry and Canadian economy.
For more information on CAAP, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/caap. To learn more about AAC, please visit www.adaptcouncil.org.
- 30 -
For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Nadine Armstrong
Communications Manager
Agricultural Adaptation Council
519-822-7554
James Farrar
Secretary-Treasurer
Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council (OCIRC)
905-945-6791
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