MP Weiler announces program open to applicants to help farmers and agri-businesses develop and adopt clean technologies to reduce emissions and enhance competitiveness

Penticton, British Columbia – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Farmers and agri-businesses in British Columbia and across Canada are leaders in climate-smart agriculture, finding new ways to make their operations more sustainable. To help them continue towards a low-carbon economy, the Government of Canada is supporting the research, innovation and adoption of clean technologies, with a focus on those that advance the bioeconomy.

Today, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, the Member of Parliament for West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country, Patrick Weiler, announced that the new $165.7-million Agricultural Clean Technology Program is now open to applicants. 

MP Weiler spoke during a virtual visit at Winecrush Technology Inc., an Okanagan-based agri-tech company. He also announced that Winecrush received up to $124,800 under the original Agricultural Clean Technology Program, which supported research and development for its Marlee project, a new biomechanical process to transform wine derivatives into natural food additives.  

This new program provides farmers and agri-businesses with access to funding to help develop and adopt the latest clean technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance their competitiveness. It will prioritize projects in three areas including the bioeconomy, which employs technologies that use agricultural waste and by-products for energy and bio-product generation.
The new program has two funding streams:

• The Adoption Stream will support the purchase and installation of proven clean technologies and solutions that show meaningful reductions in GHG emissions. 
• The Research and Innovation Stream will support pre-market innovation including research, development, demonstration and commercialization of agricultural clean technologies. 

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until funding has been fully committed or otherwise announced by the program. For more information about eligibility and to apply, visit Agricultural Clean Technology Program: Research and Innovation Stream or Agricultural Clean Technology Program: Adoption Stream. 

The Government of Canada's strengthened climate plan supports the development and adoption of cleaner practices and technologies that further reduce GHG emissions and protect the land, water and air that farmers depend on for their long-term sustainability.