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Associations, producer groups and or research organizations engaged in fertilizer research or trials

The agricultural sector

The programme has four components:
1. Applied Research - Annex 2, paragraph 2(a)
This portion of the programme provides funding to research organizations to conduct research on ways to improve techniques and/or processes in the sector. This includes research into practices that promote healthy soils, developments in pest resistance, and optimizing nutritional outcomes.

2. Innovation in Agricultural Production - Annex 2, paragraph 2(d)
The second component of the programme provides funding for the dissemination and implementation of good agricultural practices. The projects typically fall into one of two areas: experimental development, adaptation or technology transfer; or the development of new distribution tools for technical knowledge.

3. Innovation in Products and Processing - Annex 2, paragraph 2(a) and (d)
This component provides funding to promote and oversee the implementation of projects related to product or process innovation, particularly in regards to the development of foods with improved nutritional value. Projects must be innovative and science-based and be related directly to the innovation of a product or process or to a clinical study.

4. Networking and Cooperation - Annex 2, paragraph 2(f)
This final component serves to encourage networking and coordination of actors operating in the innovation chain to allow them to better respond to future market needs. The projects must fit into one of the following categories:
a. Studies supporting the holding of networking activities on science-based innovation, technological needs or the available scientific resources;
b. Networking events on innovation between companies and stakeholders in the innovation chain; and
c. Activities showcasing innovative products, processes, best practices and new technologies.

Farmers

The areas of focus for the programme are as follows:
1. On-Farm Energy Management initiatives that educate and encourage producers to pursue opportunities to improve their on-farm energy management. This enables producers to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions, ultimately reducing the environmental footprint of Alberta's agriculture industry.

2. On-Farm Stewardship initiatives support the implementation of BMPs to reduce the risk of agricultural contaminants entering water supplies. The programme targets BMPs that have the greatest potential to reduce impacts on water quality. Completion of an agri-environmental risk assessment is a pre-application condition. The initiatives are meant to positively impact water quality and promote sustainable management of inorganic agricultural wastes.

3. Confined Feeding Operation Stewardship initiatives are designed to help Alberta livestock operations and commercial manure applicators assess potential risks to water quality and make improvements to minimize those risks. Completion of an agri-environmental risk assessment is a pre-application condition. Activities may include engineering assessments, run-on and run-off controls, and improved manure storage facilities.

4. Agricultural Watershed Enhancement initiatives facilitate the delivery of targeted, comprehensive extension programmes, increased uptake of wetland restoration and riparian health BMP. This is done to realize measureable changes within high risk watershed areas, focused on addressing water quality issues. These initiatives encourages watershed groups, municipalities, and/or industry organizations to develop a watershed group plans to target the adoption of BMPs related to surface water quality by producers in high risk areas.

The programme is split into two areas, one focusing broadly on environmental programmes and the other on food safety and related issues.

Environmental funding is focused on beaver damage control, promoting best management practices, creating and improving environmental farm plans and promoting ecological goods and services. The Food Safety elements of Growing Assurance provide funding directly to producers for on-farm food safety initiatives.

Disease surveillance projects for plant or animal diseases and invasive plant management projects

Farm operations

Farmers who have completed British Columbia Environmental Farm Plans

Rural municipalities, incorporated water co-operatives and agricultural organizations can receive funds for multi-user water infrastructure projects or water management studies. Funding can extend to strategic, rural, mainline water pipeline and multi-user potable water storage projects; multi-user well development projects; rural, potable and non-potable water sourcing studies; and regional, non-potable water management studies.

Areas of focus for the programme include:

1. On-Farm Water Management initiatives that improve and protect the consistency of on-farm water supplies utilized by rural residents and producers. The programme provides producers with technical assistance to assess their on-farm water needs in relation to their current supply and to increase the volume, sustainability and/or reliability of their on-farm water supply. A new or amended long-term water management plan is a pre-application condition.

2. Regional Water Supply initiatives that assess and develop water supplies in regions where traditional on-farm water supplies are not reliable. These initiatives provide the opportunity to assess, and if appropriate, develop multi-user water supply systems so that a lack of on-farm water supply is not a barrier to production or sustainability. Studies of the feasibility of multi-user water supply systems are required and supported by the programme.

3. Irrigation Efficiency initiatives that will increase energy and water-use efficiencies by assisting producers with the purchase of energy-efficient, low pressure centre pivot irrigation equipment or to upgrade their current irrigation systems to LPCP irrigation equipment.