The Agricultural Adaptation Council is contributing $244,000 toward a project aimed at assisting Ontario corn producers grow a consistent, high-quality food grade corn.

 This crop would supply a value-added marketplace and could generate increased corn acreage. A potential demand of up to 30 million bushels of corn per year is a realistic forecast for Ontario producers, given the rapid expansion in corn food products, the lucrative snack food industry, and the proximity to major processing plants.

This project builds on the University of Guelph’s corn breeding research program that focuses on developing hybrids adapted for Ontario growing conditions. The applied research will be transferred to Ontario producers in the form of practical on-farm solutions involving agronomic practices, drying and storage techniques resulting in a more commercially viable crop.

The Ontario Corn Producers’ Association (OCPA), a non-profit association representing 21,000 Ontario corn producers and is managing this project. "The CanAdapt funding for this project will help OCPA achieve our objective of expanding the food corn acreage in the province, with true value-added income benefits for Ontario corn growers. Over time, this opportunity is expected to expand beyond the southwest portion of the province, and be the forerunner of other value-added markets based on specific grain corn traits."

This initiative is one of over 1,000 AAC funded projects that contribute to supporting Ontario’s agricultural and agri-food industry. Information relating to these projects can be found at www.adaptcouncil.org

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For more information: Mary Jarvis, Program Coordinator, Agricultural Adaptation Council Tel: (519) 822-7554 Mary's e-mail

Ken Hough, Ontario Corn Producers' Association Tel: (519) 837-1660 khough@ontariocorn.org