Manitoba Organic Growers Get Aid

WINNIPEG - Nov 4/05 - SNS -- The Organic Producers of Manitoba (OPAM) has received a CDN $225,000 government grant to help expand its infrastructure in the province.

The funding for OPAM is provided through the Agricultural Policy Framework and is directed at four objectives:

* expanding OPAM's existing infrastructure to oversee the requirements by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for organic producers and promote growth in existing and new markets,

* creating a 10-year business plan to identify and capture potential growth opportunities,

* establishing and promoting current value-added organic sectors in areas such as organic meat production and the certification of slaughter and processing facilities, and

* researching new value-added organic sectors in both crops and livestock.

"In recent years, the business volume for our organic products has far exceeded projections and this funding will help to support further growth," said Alex Scott, president of OPAM, representing about 270 OPAM-certified producers and processors. "It is proven to be a sustainable farming alternative, adding in excess of $8 million to Manitoba's economy in 2003 and filling a high-demand market niche."

In 2003, there were more than 72,100 acres involved in organic farm production and more than 2,400 livestock designated as organic animals.