CanAdvance Sponsorship Project

NEWS RELEASES - 2007

Financial Assistance Available Through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative

CALL FOR FUNDING PROPOSALS

(Guelph, ON - May 8, 2007) - An additional $6.7 million in federal funding for the 2007-2008 fiscal year is now available through the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI). This funding will continue to be delivered through the regional industry councils that administer AAFC’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (ACAAF) Program.

The Agricultural Adaptation Council is now accepting new applications for funding under BOPI to ensure farmers and rural communities have greater opportunities to participate in and share the benefits of the increased biofuels production.

The proposals are to fall under one of the following four key areas:

1. Hiring technical, financial, and business planning advisors to assist in developing sound, viable business proposals to create and expand biofuels production capacity involving significant (greater than one-third) ownership by agricultural producers;
2. Undertaking feasibility studies and other studies required to support business proposals;
3. Investigating the pre-commercialization of biofuels related research; or
4. Gathering information to help determine opportunities and to provide necessary input to generate industry involvement in biofuels capacity building. Initiatives should be oriented to business opportunities.

Priority will be given to supporting projects in the first two areas (i.e. business plans and feasibility studies).

Deadline for proposal submission is June 22, 2007.

For more information about BOPI, details on eligibility, and to obtain a copy of the application form, please visit our Web Site at: www.adaptcouncil.org.

Agricultural Adaptation Council
Ontario AgriCentre
Suite 103, 100 Stone Road West
Guelph, ON N1G 5L3
Tel: (519) 822-7554
Fax: (519) 822-6248
E-mail: info@adaptcouncil.org