Kelowna, British Columbia, April 19, 2012 - Canadian farmers will have the opportunity to increase their profits while improving the environment with the support of the Government of Canada. Member of Parliament Ron Cannan (Kelowna-Lake Country), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, today announced an investment of over $1.2 million to the University of British Columbia to study how water conservation practices can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Our Government's top priority remains the economy, and Canada's agriculture industry plays a vital role in keeping our economy strong," said MP Cannan. "This investment will help our farmers use the best possible technologies and management practices to grow their businesses while mitigating their impact on our environment."
The University of British Columbia will use the investment to develop beneficial management practices for irrigation that mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in orchards in the Okanagan and Fraser Valleys. Results of this research will allow producers to improve their production efficiency and minimize their impacts on the environment while continuing to produce top quality fruit.
"Soil and plant science teaches and informs us in significant ways about the influence of agricultural practices on the ecosystem," said Miriam Grant, Vice Provost and Dean of Research for UBC’s Okanagan campus. "The investigations undertaken by UBC scientists Melanie Jones, Louise Nelson and Craig Nichol will improve our understanding and help increase yields, while still reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint in the Okanagan. We are tremendously grateful for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s support of this ground-breaking research."
This investment is provided through the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP), a five-year, $27-million initiative that focuses on the development of on-farm greenhouse gas mitigation technologies. The AGGP will provide funding to various partners across Canada to investigate innovative mechanisms, tools and approaches that provide real solutions for the agriculture sector.
The AGGP represents Canada's initial contribution to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, an international network of more than 30 member countries that will coordinate and increase agricultural research on greenhouse gas mitigation and make new mitigation technologies and beneficial management practices available to farmers. For more information on the Alliance, visit www.globalresearchalliance.org
For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa (Ontario)
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Meagan Murdoch
Director of Communications
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
