News release

Investing In The Future Of Our Agriculture Industry

Agriculture and Fisheries (Sept. 2000 - Feb. 2006)

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Investing In The Future Of Our Agriculture Industry


The link between research and future economic growth was reinforced today, March 24, with the announcement of three research projects at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC).

Provincial and federal governments, through the Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust and Canada Foundation for Innovation, are investing more than $900,000 in infrastructure to support these projects. The results of the research will assist farmers and agri-businesses in addressing air and water quality management, cropping systems and food quality issues that are key to continued growth in the agriculture industry.

"This funding affirms the growing recognition, in the region as well as nationally, that the research efforts of our faculty here at NSAC are industry-relevant, of high academic quality, as well as state-of-the-art in scope and composition," said Philip Hicks, NSAC president. "Our faculty can compete with the best in the world in agribusiness, food science and environmental engineering, to name just a few areas in which we are active, to which this announcement attests."

Rob Gordon's research involves development of a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence gaseous emissions from agricultural systems while simultaneously addressing the impacts these emissions have on water quality.

Valtcho Jeliazkov's research program will focus on the improvement of soil management and the economic and environmental sustainability of major cropping systems in Atlantic Canada. This infrastructure will also assist other research programs, and will be used for training graduate students and industry personnel.

Bruce Rathgeber's research will investigate technology that impacts the safety and quality of raw and processed poultry products.

"It is important to invest in such research initiatives to ensure the future sustainability of our agriculture industry," said Chris d'Entremont, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister.

"The Canada Foundation for Innovation's investments in these projects at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College demonstrate that vision, talent, and dedication are in abundance in Nova Scotia," said David Pink, a board director of the foundation. "These projects were selected following a highly competitive process and will help ensure that researchers and students at the NSAC have access to a world-class research and training environment."

The Canada Foundation for Innovation is an independent corporation created in 1997 by the government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. Its mandate is to strengthen the ability of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and other non-profit institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that will benefit Canadians. For more information see the website at www.innovation.ca .