Local growing project aims to feed world’s hungry

Maas estimates 20-25 different farmers and agri-businesses help out each spring and then again with harvesting in the fall.

“Since we started this project in 1996, we’ve had great support, no matter where we are in Lacombe County, whether we’re west or east of Highway 2,” he says. “We’ve always had great support from the farmers in that area and also agri-businesses in Lacombe and area have come forward to help us with things like soil testing, fertilizer application and things of that nature. Just to help us raise as much money as we can to help hungry people in the world.”

He notes over $100,000 was made after selling last year’s crop.

“The crop is sold at the local elevator here in Lacombe (Richardson Pioneer) and then the money we get from the elevator, we send to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in Winnipeg, and wherever the greatest need in the world is, that’s where the money is used,” he remarks. “It could be Ethiopia, it could be Kenya, it could be Bangladesh or South Sudan. We support a number of different projects to help hungry people throughout the world.”

Maas says any cash donations they receive also go to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in Winnipeg.

Although canola has been the crop of choice in many recent years, Maas adds that sometimes wheat and barley are popular.

“The farm producer that provides the land each year tells us what we can grow to fit into the proper crop rotation for that piece of land,” he explains. “It just worked out this year that it was canola we were able to seed.”

Despite the Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project being largely a rural-based project, Maas says urban residents can also help.

“We don’t get all our inputs donated, and we do buy crop insurance, so if the people in cities or rural towns want to help, they can sponsor an acre,” he suggests. “We use those funds to cover the cost of anything not donated. That way we can raise more money for hungry people.”

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a registered charity, so any donations would be issued a charitable tax receipt.

“One other important element as well, is the Canadian government really believes in what the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is able to do,” says Maas. “They support us on a four-to-one basis. So if you donate $100 to our Growing Project, it actually turns into $500 total, which is great.”

To donate locally, you can contact Doug Maas at 403-782-1860 or visit www.foodgrainsbank.ca.

Elsewhere, Viterra has announced it is making the land around five of its terminals available for the work of ending global hunger through Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Across Alberta and Saskatchewan, just over 300 acres are being farmed this year, with individual farmers and groups of farmers volunteering their time, expertise, and resources to farm the plots of land.

In Alberta, Viterra has terminals in Trochu, southeast of Red Deer, and Lethbridge.

(With file from The Canadian Press)

by Sheldon Spackman

Local growing project aims to feed world’s hungry

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