/EINPresswire.com/ -- OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/16/16 -- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Whether it means safe, high quality food on the table or jobs to support families, a strong and prosperous agriculture sector benefits everyone. The key to ensuring the industry remains strong and Canadians continue to be able to access new, safe, diverse, high-quality foods, is innovation.

From improving the taste and texture of processed and frozen fruits and vegetables to understanding how different light affects tomato growth and nutritional value in greenhouses, innovation ensures producers have the tools and knowledge to grow and deliver the quality of food that Canadian want and expect.

Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, announced that - as part of Budget 2016 - the federal government will invest $37.6 million in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to modernize a number of AAFC research stations and laboratories in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec.

Working in modern facilities with up-to-date equipment will strengthen the department's science capacity, support innovation and ultimately deliver benefits to the agricultural sector, producers and Canadians.

Quote

"This funding highlights the Government of Canada's commitment to increasing Canada's scientific excellence. Having the right research infrastructure and equipment strengthens AAFC's science capacity, and its ability to serve the agricultural sector and helps it be more competitive in a global economy."

- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Quick Facts

Funds will be used to:

--  install a new bioreactor to help Investigate the use of biological
    products and processes for treating farm wastes;
--  upgrade a research and pilot plant facility in order to improve food
    safety and food processing;
--  add new efficient growth chambers in a number of centres to help
    scientists conduct important plant and crops research; and
--  improve the energy efficiency at facilities and reduce their
    environmental footprint.

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BACKGROUNDERFull List of AAFC Infrastructure Investment Projects

Initiative: Pilot Plant Refurbishment

Total funding: $20.1 million

Location: Saint-Hyacinthe Research and Development Centre (Saint-Hyacinthe, QC)

Project: Pilot Plant Refurbishment - $20.1 million

This project will replace aging or obsolete equipment at the Pilot Plant, which directly supports the food processing industry by providing facilities to support innovation. This includes the development of new or improved product, the adoption of technology to improve productivity, and support for start-up companies. The refurbishment of the plant will modernize and improve science and technology capacity, allowing federal researchers to better support innovation, adoption and sustainability in the sector.

Initiative: Science Infrastructure Modernization and Rehabilitation

Total funding: $6.7 million

Location: Saskatoon Research and Development Centre (Saskatoon, SK)

Project: Crop Services Building expansion - $3.0 million

The Saskatoon Research and Development Centre conducts research on prairie crops to support the agri-food industry in Western Canada. This project will support an addition to the Crop Services Building, including building new laboratories to support AAFC's wheat breeding program and other research on forages and cereals. The new space will ensure continued safe and more efficient operations.

Location: Lethbridge Research and development Centre (Lethbridge, AB)

Project: Agronomy Building expansion - $2.8 million

The Lethbridge Research and Development Centre supports research into sustainable crop production systems, environmental issues associated with a semi-arid climate, and beef production systems. This project will increase the capacity of the Centre's facilities in order to accommodate new field programs and expanded research activities.

Location: Lacombe Research and Development Centre (Lacombe, AB)

Project: Beef feedlot expansion - $750,000

Research activities at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre focus on the study of food safety, red meat quality, carcass grading, cereal breeding and forage/beef production. This project will increase the capacity of the Centre's facilities in order to accommodate the herds housed at the Centre.

Location: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre (Ste-Clotilde, QC)

Project: Science Storage and Preparation Building improvements - $100,000

This project will address structural issues for a storage building used for large machinery and equipment.

Location: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre (L'Acadie, QC)

Project: Science Storage Building improvements - $75,000

This project will make improvements to the main building at L'Acadie, to improve functionality and safety when conducting maintenance and repairs to farm equipment.

Initiative: Growth Chambers

Three projects to install new efficient growth chambers, which help control humidity and temperature, for plant and crops research.

Total funding: $3.1 million

Location: Summerland Research and Development Centre (Summerland, BC)

Project: Growth Cabinets - $1.1 million

The Summerland Research and Development Centre focuses on research related to horticultural crops such as grapes and tree fruits. This will support the Centre's activities to generate knowledge and technologies to promote sustainable production of wholesome foods and novel bioproducts from crops.

Location: Harrow Research and Development Centre (Harrow, ON)

London Research and Development Centre (London, ON)

Project: Growth Cabinets - $1 million

This investment will support the development and transfer of new technologies for the production and protection of greenhouse vegetables and ornamentals. It will also contribute to the development of alternative and environmentally acceptable technologies to protect crops.

Location: Quebec Research and Development Centre (Quebec, QC)

Project: Growth Cabinets - $1 million

The Quebec Research and Development Centre Centre supports research into crop rotation and enhancing environmental performance. This investment will support the Centre's scientific research priorities, such as making crop systems more sustainable in cold, wet climates.

Initiative: Installation of Bioreactor

Total funding: $1.5 million

Location: Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre (Sherbrooke, QC)

Project: Installation of Bioreactor - $1.5 million

This project involves the installation of a bioreactor at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre that utilizes a technology developed by AAFC that allows low-temperature, high-performance anaerobic digestion technology. This technology, which was developed for Canadian-climates, supports the development of clean and sustainable technologies.

An additional $6.2 million will be invested in roof replacements at the Harrow Research and Development Centre in Harrow, Ontario; the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, in Lethbridge, Alberta; and the Lacombe Research and Development Centre, in Lacombe, Alberta.

Contacts:
Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
The Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

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