News release

NEW FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP ADVANCE NOVA SCOTIA'S AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

TRURO, Nova Scotia, November 8, 2004 - The Government of Canada today delivered a five-year funding package worth $4.1 million under the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program to help implement new projects that will benefit Nova Scotia's production and processing sector and bolster its capacity to address current and emerging issues.

As the successor to the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development (CARD) Fund, the five-year, $255-million ACAAF Program, launched April 7, 2004, is aimed at positioning Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry to seize new market opportunities.

Under ACAAF, the industry councils located in every province and territory will continue to play a pivotal role in delivering regional agriculture and agri-food projects. The councils' annual ACAAF base allocation was increased from $25 million, previously under CARD, to $27.3 million, based on feedback received during extensive industry consultations held last year.

In Nova Scotia, ACAAF funding is being provided to Agri-Futures Nova Scotia (AFNS), an industry council responsible for the regional delivery of ACAAF in the province. Over the next five years, the Agri-Futures Nova Scotia will manage an annual budget of $813,117. The council will also be able to access additional funding by undertaking collective outcome projects in collaboration with other councils and national organizations.

"I am confident that the new ACAAF funding announced today will help all the industry councils continue their strong track record in further advancing the sector and enriching their regional communities," said Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell. "Combined, these investments will help support a profitable and sustainable future for producers and their local communities across Canada."

"On behalf of Minister Mitchell, I am pleased that the federal government is helping to support Agri-Future Nova Scotia's efforts to expand economic and employment opportunities throughout Nova Scotia's agri-food sector," said Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Geoff Regan.

"ACAAF will provide the agriculture and agri-food industry with an opportunity to meet the many challenges it faces in today's difficult environment," said Laurie Hennigar, Chair of Agri-Futures Nova Scotia. "With our ACAAF funding being significantly higher than what we received under CARD, Agri-Futures Nova Scotia will be able to broaden its support to the industry and place more emphasis on new technology and the development of market opportunities."

Agri-Futures Nova Scotia provides funding to eligible Nova Scotia farm groups, agri-businesses and agricultural rural communities for innovative projects designed to foster increased long term growth, self-reliance, employment and competitiveness in the agriculture and agri-food sectors, and in agricultural rural Nova Scotia.

In an attempt to heighten the entrepreneurial climate within Nova Scotia agricultural and rural communities, Agri-Futures Nova Scotia will fund initiatives that will aid in expanding the market share of the industry and encourage the development of innovative technologies that will assist Nova Scotia farmers and food processors to adapt to the realities of the global market place and become more competitive.

ACAAF is based on a three-pillar approach:

Pillar I - Industry-led Solutions to Emerging Issues supports projects that test or pilot approaches and solutions, and can serve as an incubator for initiatives holding future promise.

Pillar II - Capturing Market Opportunities by Advancing Research Results supports projects that transfer research results into market opportunities.

Pillar III - Sharing Information to Advance the Sector supports projects aimed at gathering, analyzing and sharing information to contribute to future agriculture and agri-food policy directions.

To obtain more information on the AFNS, other industry councils or on the ACAAF program, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/acaaf.

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For more information, media may contact:

Elizabeth Whiting
Minister's Office
Ottawa
(613) 759-1761

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food
Ottawa
(613) 759-7972

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