News Release
New Federal Funding to help advance Prince Eward Island's Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector
The Government of Canada today delivered an annual funding package worth $696,758 under the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program to help implement new projects that will benefit Prince Edward Island’s production and processing sector and buffet its capacity to address current and emerging issues.
As the successor to the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development (CARD) Fund, the five-year, $255-million ACAAF Program, launched April 7, 2004, is aimed at positioning Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry to seize new market opportunities. The annual ACAAF base allocation to the fourteen industry councils was increased from $25 million, previously under CARD, to $27.3 million, based on feedback received during extensive industry consultations held last year.
In Prince Edward Island, ACAAF funding is being provided to the PEI ADAPT Council responsible for the regional delivery of ACAAF in the province.
Over the next five years, the PEI ADAPT Council will manage an annual budget of $696,758. In addition, by supporting collective outcome projects, a key objective of ACAAF, the council will be able to increase the funding up to $858,447.
The PEI ADAPT Council provides funding for innovative projects designed to foster increased long term growth, self-reliance, employment and competitiveness for Prince Edward Island's agri-food sector and rural communities while strengthening the leadership and management of sustainable agricultural production.
The PEI ADAPT Council is a non-profit incorporated organization made up of members representing community groups, agri-business groups and farm organizations and one non-voting ex-officio member from the provincial government and one from the federal government. The board determines policy decisions and makes funding decisions on individual projects.
ACAAF is based on a three-pillar approach: Pillar I, Industry-led Solutions to Emerging Issues; Pillar II, Capturing Market Opportunities by Advancing Research Results; and Pillar III, Sharing Information to Advance the Sector.
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