An Edmonton processor making a food-grade high-fibre sugar substitute from organic pea starch has picked up federal funding to speed its expansion in Alberta. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) last month announced a federal interest-free loan worth about $2.94 million for BioNeutra North America. The investment, WD said, will allow the company “to acquire equipment […]
Teaming up with other growers can widen a customer base, create more convenience, and give new farmers a leg up By Geralyn Wichers Glacier FarmMedia staff Collaborating with other farmers to direct market food can show customers that they are part of a larger community, says one direct-market farmer. And, unlike organics or environment-friendly farming […]
Consumer desire to source local food a cash-cow for on-farm direct marketing businesses By Diana Martin Glacier FarmMedia staff Consumers took a more active role in sourcing locally produced protein when COVID-19 exposed challenges in the food supply chain. Mike Dougherty, along with his mom Suzy and brother Doug had been steadily growing their 50-acre […]
Sweden takes first, Denmark second and Norway lags at the bottom when it comes to how much organic food is served in canteens, kindergartens and other public sector workplaces across the three Nordic nations. University of Copenhagen-Faculty of Science – Sweden takes first, Denmark second and Norway lags at the bottom when it comes to […]
By Robert Arnason Glacier FarmMedia staff One Degree Organic Foods, as its name suggests, makes and sells organic foods. The British Columbia company manufactures organic bread, cereal, granola and other grain-based products. Since it’s organic, it’s likely the wheat, oats and other ingredients are produced without pesticides. But “likely” isn’t good enough for the owners […]
By Robert Arnason Glacier FarmMedia staff Regenerative agriculture had a big year in 2020. It received a tremendous amount of media attention and Cargill committed to increase regenerative ag practices to 10 million acres of North American farmland by 2030. But more attention usually means more scrutiny. Some scientists are now questioning the hype around […]
A Vancouver firm has come up with an ambitious plan that it hopes will drastically slash global synthetic pesticide use. By Robert Arnason Glacier FarmMedia staff The head of a Vancouver company has an ambitious but seemingly impossible goal. Karn Manhas, chief executive officer of Terramera, hopes to reduce “global synthetic pesticide load 80 percent […]
Organic acreage in Quebec has increased 65 percent between 2017 and 2019, jumping to 570,000 acres from 314,000 By Robert Arnason Glacier FarmMedia staff The number of organic farmers and acreage may be flattening in Canada, but not in Quebec. Growth is off the charts in that province as it continues to add growers and […]
Manitoba was the only Prairie province to see an increase in organic crop acres in 2019 By Geralyn Wichers Glacier FarmMedia staff Manitoba’s organic growers and processors posted a year of moderate increases in 2019 according to a new report from the Prairie Organic Development Fund. While Manitoba continues to be by far the smallest […]
University of Minnesota – Many farmers are used to sharing big equipment–like tractors and other costly machinery — with neighboring farms. Sharing cuts costs, lowers the farmer’s debt load, and increases community wellbeing. But big machinery might not be the only opportunity for farmers to reap the benefits of cost-sharing with their neighbors. New research […]
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