"Our Government's top priority remains the economy, and British Columbia's agriculture industry plays an important role in keeping it strong," said Minister Ritz. "This investment in new technology will help BC farmers improve their competitiveness as well as their environmental sustainability."

"BC's new Agrifoods Strategy identifies the development of new businesses and market innovations including participation in energy and carbon efficiency, renewable energy and bioproducts development," said BC Minister of Agriculture Don McRae. "Projects like these demonstrate our commitment to the Agrifoods Strategy by making agriculture more environmentally sustainable as well as putting more money in the pockets of BC farmers."

An investment totalling $289,175 under the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation programme will go toward two projects to explore turning agricultural waste into quality biofuels that will create new or additional revenue streams for farmers:

• $142,575 for Diacarbon Energy Inc. to convert agricultural wastes such as anaerobic digestate, poultry litter and spent mushroom substrate into biocoal. Using an innovative process, they will also research the use of this biocoal as an industrial fuel and energy source.
• $146,600 for GreenScene AgriTek Inc. to expand the use of their reclamation and recycling technology to create a quality biofuel from used horse bedding.

"Projects like these demonstrate the opportunity for agriculture to play a role in the development of new energy solutions and responsible environmental practices," said Peter Levelton, chair of the Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF). "The IAF is proud to connect the BC agriculture sector with funding to make these kinds of partnerships in innovation possible."

These investments are being provided under Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial agreement. The Canada-BC Agri-Innovation programme supports projects that lead to innovation and enhanced profitability and competitiveness, both on-farm and throughout the rest of the supply chain.

The programme is delivered by the IAF on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture.

To learn more about the IAF, click here.