Parliamentary Secretary Drouin announces nearly $730,000 to support sustainable farming practices in Eastern Ontario

News release

February 18, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Across the country, Canadian farmers are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The Government of Canada is supporting farmers through the climate challenges of today, including droughts, floods and other extreme weather, while investing in clean technology solutions that will build a healthier future for generations to come.

Today, Francis Drouin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, announced support of up to nearly $730,000 for four Adoption Stream projects approved under the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program in Eastern Ontario. This will help farmers adapt to a changing climate and boost their long-term competitiveness, all while cutting emissions. This funding is focused on three priority areas: green energy and energy efficiency; precision agriculture; and the bioeconomy.

Degroot Horizon Dairy Inc., a diary cattle and milk production farm in Hammond, will receive up to $188,437 to install a new rooftop photovoltaic solar system.

Ferme Avicole M.S. Leroux Ltée., an organic poultry farm in St-Isidore, will receive up to $145,515 to install a rooftop photovoltaic solar system.

La Ferme Ben Ray Mo Ltd., a third generation dairy farm in St-Albert, will receive up to $190,825 to purchase and install a new solar system.

Ferme DesRosiers, a farm that grows cash crops such as soy, wheat, and corn in St-Albert, will receive up to $204,057 to install a new and more efficient grain dryer.

Under the ACT Program, the Adoption Stream supports the purchase and installation of commercially available clean technologies and processes with a priority given to those that show evidence of GHG emissions and other environmental co-benefits. The Research and Innovation Stream supports pre-market innovation, including research, development, demonstration and commercialization activities, to develop transformative clean technologies and enable the expansion of current technologies.

Today's announcement builds on the work already underway to help farmers to reduce emissions and develop technology to adapt to climate change. The Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program is part of the government's strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is working together with agricultural producers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program helps them acquire more energy-efficient equipment and adopt innovative solutions to make their practices more sustainable. These investments build resilience to climate change and meet consumer expectations."

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"Across Eastern Ontario, our Government is committed to working closely with farmers to reduce emissions and develop technology to adapt to climate change. By investing in these four local projects such as Degroot Horizon Dairy's new solar panels, we continue to establish the right building blocks to get to net zero by 2050 so that our children and grandchildren can grow up with clean air and water."

- Francis Drouin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for Glengarry–Prescott–Russell

"We are trying to be closer to carbon neutral and improve the overall reputation of dairy farms. With the help of the ACT Program, my goal is to make our operations more green and to leave the farm in a better place than what we had started."

- Marcel Degroot, Owner, Degroot Horizon Dairy Inc.

"The Agricultural Clean Technology Program will help us to continue our work in sustainability. Our organic farm will be able to produce its own electricity needs from our own rooftop photovoltaic solar system."

- Marcel Leroux, Owner, Ferme Avicole M.S. Leroux Ltée.

"We were really happy to receive support for our new solar system because we thought it would be a great investment to use our roof to produce electricity. Our goal in the future is to be more efficient, better for the environment, and improve our operations for future generations."

- Martin Benoit, Owner, La Ferme Ben Rey Mo Ltd.

Quick facts

  • The Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program is part of the government's strengthened climate plan. The climate plan includes 64 new measures and $15 billion in investments in addition to the Canada Infrastructure Bank's $6 billion for clean infrastructure announced as part of its growth plan.

  • The ACT Program may provide a more favourable cost-share ratio (60:40) where the majority of the business (more than 50 percent) is owned or led by one or more underrepresented groups, which include: women, youth, aged 35 or under, Indigenous groups, visible minorities and persons with disabilities.

  • Projects and final funding are subject to negotiation of a contribution agreement.

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced over $550 million in federal investments to support the development and adoption of clean technologies and beneficial management practices. In addition to ACT, recent programs have been launched to help address environmental issues, including the $185-million Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) – Living Labs program to support carbon sequestration and GHG emission reduction and the $200-million ACS – On-Farm Climate Action Fund to support immediate on-farm adoption of beneficial management practices (nitrogen management, rotational grazing and cover cropping).

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Contacts

Marianne Dandurand
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
marianne.dandurand@agr.gc.ca
343-541-9229

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
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