News Release

For Immediate Release
January 29, 2003

Agricultural Export and Value-Added Productions Study Underway for Cape Breton

Sydney (N.S.) - Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) is sponsoring an agricultural study to identify value-added and export-oriented opportunities in Cape Breton Island’s agricultural sector. The consulting firm, Grant Thorton LLP, has won the contract after a competitive process. The firm has extensive experience in the Nova Scotia agricultural sector including the development of business models and the identification of export and economic development opportunities.

The two objectives for this study are to clearly define a critical path for economic growth in the agricultural sector on Cape Breton Island through 
export development, and to examine the potential for value-added production. 

“With a global trend towards enhanced food preparation, convenience and functional foods, many new products are entering the marketplace and changing the way traditional food products are processed and sold,” 
said Rick Beaton, Vice-President of ECBC. “This study will look at how 
Cape Breton Island producers and processors can benefit from these 
market changes.”

To oversee the study, ECBC has formed a steering committee including representatives from the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, the Bras d’Or Food Producers Cooperative and local private operators. The steering committee will provide the consultants with on-going input and local perspective related to all aspects of the study. Public consultations will also be organized to seek input from interested parties. 

The study is scheduled to be complete by mid-March 2003. 

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.



FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

D.A. Landry 
ECBC Communications 
Tel: (902) 564-3617

Jim Copland
Partner-Grant Thorton LLP 
Tel: (902) 690-2016