Advancing Canadian Agriculture

and Agri-Food (ACAAF)

The federal program Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) was dedicated to expand the agricultural sector capacity to:

• Expand the sector's capacity to respond to current and emerging issues
• Position the sector to capture market opportunities
• Actively engage the sector to contribute to agriculture and agri-food policy's future directions
• Complement the Agricultural Policy Framework to advance toward its goals

The Agriculture and Food Council administered ACAAF in Alberta on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. From 2004 to March 2009, the Council invested $23 million of ACAAF funds in over 330 industry-led innovative projects that have found innovative solutions to emerging challenges, advanced research to capture market opportunities, and shared information to advance the sector.

Inquiries about the Alberta ACAAF program may be directed to Cory Rybuck, Executive Director of Federal Programs at 1-866-955-3714 ext. 235.

Pour l'information en français, veuillez nous contacter à caap-pcaa@agfoodcouncil.com ou au 780-955-3714.

ACAAF Collective Outcome (CO) Success Story

Conseil de la transformation agroalimentaire et des produits de consommation - Preparation of a guide for the food industry targeting sodium reduction or elimination in food

To help the industry modify its product development practices in order to incorporate healthy ingredients or substitute salt/sodium with nutritionally more acceptable ingredients CTAC (Conseil de la transformation agroalimentaire et des produits de consommation) proposed the preparation of a Food Guide. This guide is above all provided for those who process food, to help them understand the technological challenges involved in developing low-sodium formulations.

Salt reduction guide for the food industry

Guide reduction du sodium pour l'industrie alimentaire

ACAAF Alberta Success Story 1

Parkland Conservation Farm - Beneficial Management Practices Demonstration Site

The Parkland Conservation Farm's (PCF) project had the objective to incorporate beneficial management practices (BMPs), as listed in the Canada-Alberta Farm Stewardship Program, into their demonstration farm for educational purposes with a focus on youth.

With less than 2% of Canadians involved in agriculture today, urban populations do not have many opportunities to familiarize themselves with the industry and its complex issues.  PCF provides opportunities for a mix of hands-on learning, in combination with theory and activities that aim at bridging this gap.  Thousands of students have toured their farm.  Now, the groups that tour the farm also witness BMPs in an actual working farm setting, how they are conducted and how they impact the health of the environment. 

Just in the first year, 2770 youth and 458 adults took part in PCF's agri-environmental programs.  The response was overwhelmingly positive and the impacts are far more reaching than anticipated.  The program will be incorporated by Alberta Education in the existing curriculum over the next years, Alberta Environment got also involved and is promoting environmental sustainability education in this location, and other agricultural societies have approached PCF for environmental displays and presentations. 

ACAAF investment in PCF was $64,052 and the total project value was $106,772 with contributions from industry, NGOs, colleges, and federal, provincial and municipal governments.

www.parklandconservationfarm.com

ACAAF Alberta Success Story 2

Lethbridge College Tiffin Conference Series 2009

Once again the Tiffin Conference was a success.  563 people paid to attend two events: "Lessons Learned in the Red Meat Industry" on January 22, and "Do You Know Where Your Parents Are?" on March 12 2009.  This success can be attributed principally to how well the volunteers on the organizing committee have their collective "ear to the ground" in knowing what the current issues to the agriculture industry are.  They bring to the table years of experience, education and expertise. 

Alberta Agriculture's (ARD) Deputy Minister, John Knapp did a presentation at the January conference, and organizers have been notified that senior officials from ARD will be attending both conferences in the future. 

The January event covered how conventional thoughts, ideas, policies and strategies have been re-examined and in many cases changed to reflect the new reality of the meat industry. 

Compared with past years, attendance at the March event was much stronger due to the theme.  It seems farm succession planning is the "elephant in the room" that either no one wants to talk about, or want to talk about but aren't sure how to start the discussions with family members.  Based on the success of the March event in 2009, the organizers will focus on management issues for March 2010. 

In 2010, the Tiffin Conference will take place January 21st and March 11th.

ACAAF investment in the Conference was $15,000 and the total project value was $151,074 with contributions from the Council's Innovation in Agri-business Management Fund (IAMF), industry, NGOs, universities and colleges, and federal, provincial and municipal governments.

www.tiffinconference.ca