Pulse Canada to Receive over $3.3M to Address Sustainability, Trade and Marketing

Today, in Saskatatoon, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced that Pulse Canada will receive an investment of over $3.3 million for projects addressing sustainability, pulse demand and trade.

“This Government remains committed to the economy, and our hard-working pulse growers play a vital role in creating jobs and keeping our economy strong.,” said Ritz. “We are pleased to accelerate the commercialization of value-added research and technology in the sector and to give producers the tools they need to better respond to emerging non-tariff barriers in foreign markets.”

Ag minister Gerry Ritz announces $3.3 m for Cdn pulse industry. Funds for marketing & market development #westcdnag pic.twitter.com/loUkOT0tKz

— Lyndsey Smith (@realag_lyndsey) January 13, 2015

According to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada release sent this morning, the projects will include the following:

• $1.3 million to generate new tools for the Canadian grain, oilseed and pulse industries to measure the sustainability performance of Canadian agriculture, and use this new information to demonstrate compliance with food industry assurance systems.
• $870,261 to increase demand for Canadian pulses by marketing the nutritional value, health benefits and sustainability of Canadian pulses.
• $897,311 to engage key Canadian stakeholders in support of the elimination of trade barriers that limit growth opportunities in both established and emerging markets.
• $270,000 to enable the pulse sector to transfer knowledge and expertise to the food processing and ingredients sector for pulse-containing food products marketed with nutrition and health claims.

“Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Growing Forward 2 investments are supporting a new era of cooperation between commodity groups, trade organizations and food companies,” said Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada. “Each collaborative effort is focused on driving costs down and enhancing the value of agri-products grown, marketed and sold by farmers across Canada.”

The funding will be received over the span of five years through the AgriMarketing Program and the AgriInnovation Program under Growing Forward 2 (GF2).