Table of Contents Printed Acrobat Reader Page #’s Page # Main Newsletter (for all regions) Transition to Growing Forward: – A New Agreement in Support of Agriculture 1 2 New Provincial Organic Agricultural Council 1 2 Agricultural Companies Receive Infrastructure Funding 2 3 Growing Opportunities - “Realizing the Benefits from the Local Food Economy” 2 3 Beyond Basic Nutrition: Healthy Functional Food Ingredients, Snacks, and Beverages from Nova Scotia Apples 3 4 NS Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission 3 4 Programs & Business Risk Management Division 4 5 NSAC Continuing and Distance Education 5 6 AgraPoint Events 6 7 NSAC Announces New International Business Degree 7 8 Cereal and Soybean Growers Tune-up Sessions 7 8 Workshop: Agricultural Riparian Health and Management Strategy for for Atlantic Canada 7 8 Custom Newsletter Pages (for individual regions) West Hants, Kings, Lunenburg and Queens counties 8 9 Colchester, Cumberland, East Hants, and Halifax Regional Municipality 8 11 Cape Breton, Victoria, Inverness and Richmond counties 8 13 Pictou, Antigonish, Inverness and Guysborough counties 8 15 Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth and Shelburne counties 8 16 February 2008 Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture Volume 9 No. 1 Transition to Growing Forward: A New Agreement in Support of Agriculture The Agricultural Policy Framework In June 2007, FPT Ministers of existing cost-shared non-BRM (APF) was the first time in Canada Agriculture received authority to activities to ensure continuity for that an integrated, comprehensive and negotiate Growing Forward – a farmers and others in the sector who forward-looking agricultural policy framework which builds on the rely upon these programs. During was created. APF’s successes. Federal, provincial this transition year, new programs and territorial governments are now will be designed to address the Introduced in 2003, the APF reflected negotiating the policy architecture Growing Forward policy objectives. an agreement among FPT Ministers and program objectives for new As this architecture is implemented, that the agriculture and agri-food programs to support the policy the continuity programming will be sector needed a more sustainable and objectives outlined in Growing replaced with Growing Forward long-term approach to minimize the Forward. The plan outlined in June programming. demands for ad hoc funding. The aimed for a multilateral framework goal was to brand Canada as a world agreement in the fall, to be followed leader in food safety, innovation and by bilateral agreements and environmentally-responsible implementation on April 1, 2008. production. Governments agreed on New Provincial an action plan composed of five BRM program implementation is on Organic Agricultural elements: food safety and quality, track for full implementation in the environment, science and innovation, 2008 program year. FPT ministers Council renewal, and business risk have approved a new BRM suite set management (BRM). Programs to launch April 1, 2008. An organic agricultural council is under these elements were cost- being formed in Nova Scotia. It is shared or cost-matched 60:40 across It is now clear that while tentatively called the Nova Scotia federal, provincial and territorial negotiations on the policy and broad Organic Council and will work with governments. non-BRM program design can be the Organic Federation of completed by March 31, 2008, full Canada/Fédération biologique du The APF is set to expire on March 31, program implementation will have to Canada, a not-for-profit organization 2008. FPT governments began follow in 2008-09. It is critical that that was formed by the federal working on a new framework to programs be prudently developed government, to address issues in the replace the APF, with extensive and the industry broadly consulted to industry on standards and public consultations forming a key ensure that the new framework can regulations. component. To date, these advance the outcomes agreed to by consultations have provided a wealth FPT ministers in Growing Forward. A steering committee was formed to of ideas for the next policy set up the Nova Scotia Organic framework, and engaged industry and Ministers have agreed to support Council at a January 22 meeting of other stakeholders as partners in funding for up to one year for organic agricultural industry leaders, policy development. hosted in Bible Hill by the Industry Development and Business Services Branch of the Department of Back issues of this newsletter are Agriculture. available on-line at http://www.gov.ns.ca/agri/rs/fs/arcs/ 1 ...continued on next page Continued from previous page... Agricultural Companies Receive Agriculture Minister Brooke Taylor Infrastructure Funding commended the organic sector in Nova Scotia for showing leadership by working together to create this Four agricultural companies have • Knoydart Farms Limited, to new organization. been approved for a total of upgrade equipment to process $750,000 in funding to help organic milk into specialty cheese. “Organic agriculture is an important strengthen their infrastructure and component of the future growth of sustainability. These businesses applied under the agriculture in the province.” Strategic Infrastructure Investment “These projects will assist the Fund. This is the first year of the $6 The Organic Federation of Canada producers and processors accelerate million, four-year fund. has secured federal funding of their economic potential and $27,000 for the development of the development,” said Brooke Taylor, “The Department of Agriculture provincial council. Minister of Agriculture. continues to help producers and the agriculture industry,” said Mr. Taylor. Angela Patterson, a certified organic Funding has been approved for: “These projects were chosen for their grower from Canning, Kings Co., is strong business plans and benefits • Van Meekeren Farms Limited, to for the industry as a whole. This a member of a steering committee upgrade its apple processing that will oversee the development of fund promotes creativity and equipment and expand its partnerships in our industry. We the new council. Ms. Patterson is warehouse. also president of the Nova Scotia support winning opportunities for Organic Growers Association, the • Scotian Gold Cooperative industry and our communities.” certifying body that was instrumental Limited, to improve processing in the development of the new technology and assist with plant For more information on the council. modernization. Strategic Infrastructure Investment Fund visit www.gov.ns/agri . • West Nova Agro Commodities Ms. Patterson said, “This new group Limited, to establish an organic will represent the entire organic grains processing facility. sector - producers, handlers, processors, input manufacturers, importers, exporters, retailers, certification bodies, provincial government - as required by the Organic Federation of Growing Opportunities - “Realizing the Canada/Fédération biologique du Benefits from the Local Food Economy” Canada.” March 25 – 26, 2008 • Holiday Inn Harbourview Dartmouth, NS Ms. Patterson expressed appreciation for the Department of Agriculture’s Do you want to sell more goods conference that will explore the solid support and continued within the local market? Are you many opportunities available to sell partnership in the development of the frustrated with the status quo? Do more of your goods within Nova Nova Scotia Organic Council. you have questions and can’t find Scotia. the answers? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you Register today as space is limited have to attend this conference! and the deadline is fast approaching. Cost is $125 (includes Listen to a panel of experienced meals). presenters. Learn from your colleagues. Link your ideas with For more information or to register others in the value chain. Sell for this event visit us online Local. Join us on March 25 and 26, www.gov.ns.ca/agri/bde or call 902- 2008 for a business development 893-6580. 2 Beyond Basic Nutrition: Healthy Functional Food Ingredients, Snacks, and Beverages from Nova Scotia Apples Erin MacPherson, NSAC Eating an apple is a great way to get you with a balance of vitamins, this R and D initiative is unique; its Vitamin C and other nutrients, but minerals, dietary fiber, and natural design is based on carefully con- soon consumers may have new antioxidants. ducted market and business develop- apple-based snack and beverage ment research. “Dr. Rupasinghe has products to choose from. New Rupasinghe is Chair of the Tree Fruit put together an excellent multi- research at Nova Scotia Agricultural BioProduct Research Program at disciplinary team of agri-businesses College (NSAC) hopes to capture the NSAC, an established cooperative and research collaborators,” says health benefits of fruits and intro- and industry-led research program. It Erith. duce new healthy and convenient is supported by the Nova Scotia value-added food choices to the Fruit Growers’ Association Creating innovative products is consumer. This project recently (NSFGA) and four Annapolis Valley nothing new to Rupasinghe. In received $1.9 million from the companies, Apple Valley Foods Ltd, 2005, he and his team of researchers Atlantic Canada Opportunity Grand Pre Wines Ltd., J.W. Mason received the Agri-food Innovation Agency’s, Atlantic Innovation Fund. and Sons, and Noggins Corner Farm Award for introducing pre-packaged Ltd., who plan to commercialize the apple slices to the marketplace in Dr. Vasantha Rupasinghe, an resulting