A catalyst for adaptation, advancement and innovation within the agriculture and agri-food community.
NEWS RELEASES - 2006
New Biofuels Program Invests in the Ontario Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector
(Guelph, ON – September 21, 2006) – The Agricultural Adaptation Council
(AAC) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) that supports the criteria under
the new Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI).
Worth $10 million, the BOPI is funded nationally through Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada and delivered regionally through the industry councils. In Ontario, the
AAC, located in Guelph, will administer Ontario’s share of the Initiative - $1.3
million.
The RFP is designed to fund projects that improve the agricultural producers’
ability to participate in and take advantage of opportunities created by
biofuels production. Individual project funding will be capped at $300,000 and
at least 25% of the project cost must be provided by the industry applicant.
“The main goal of this Initiative is to make a viable business case for
producing transportation fuels that include agricultural inputs,” says Bette
Jean Crews, chair of the AAC. “Farmers and rural communities will benefit from a
real biofuels strategy that encourages producers to participate in equity
ownership of biofuels production facilities.”
BOPI will help provide new opportunities to farmers, and will also help lay the
foundation to meet Canada’s biofuels commitment of 5% average renewable fuel
content in transport fuel by 2010. Greater involvement in biofuels production
facilities will allow agricultural producers to become participants in the value
chain and increase their share of the benefits from renewable fuels production
beyond delivering feedstock.
Funding may be used to develop business proposals or feasibility studies using
primary inputs from agricultural products (corn, wheat, or other cereals for
ethanol, vegetable oils or animal fat for biodiesel), and there are potential
opportunities using straw or other biomass containing cellulose as inputs.
Funding can also be used for proposals or studies relating to the use of wood,
residues from processing plants or other residues or wastes for biofuel
production.
“Our producers and industry stakeholders have the savvy, they have the knowledge
of what it takes, either to make something better or to bring something new to
the farm,” says Crews. “This program simply recognizes that foundation and makes
it possible to look beyond the conventional and compete with new ventures and
opportunities.”
The complete RFP can be accessed at www.adaptcouncil.org or by e-mailing info@adaptcouncil.org.
Completed proposals are to be submitted by Friday, September 29, 2006 (first
call) or Friday, October 27, 2006 (second call).
The Agricultural Adaptation Council is a non-profit, grass roots coalition of 64
agricultural, agribusiness and rural organizations dedicated to providing
financial resources to help Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industry remain
profitable, grow and maintain its economic strength. The BOPI program is
administered under the existing Terms and Conditions of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program.
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Nadine Buitenhuis
Communications Manager
Agricultural Adaptation Council
Ontario AgriCentre
Suite 103, 100 Stone Road West
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5L3
Phone: 519-822-7554
Fax: 519-822-6248
E-mail: nbuitenhuis@adaptcouncil.org
Website: www.adaptcouncil.org
