By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Friday May 19, 2023

May 19, 2023 | 10:35 AM

The federal government if providing funding to an Ontario business that’s developing tools to protect animals from bovine tuberculosis.

Bioimaging Research Solutions Inc. will receive $1 million to continue their work to develop technology to protect livestock and support market access for Canada’s beef and cattle exports.

The company is developing an artificial intelligence system to improve the efficiency of disease surveillance activities in slaughter plants.

Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial disease of livestock that can result in production losses, barriers to market access and risks to both animal and public health.

The company previously received $150,000 through the Innovative Solutions Canada program to develop a proof of concept as part of Phase 1 of the “Detection of granulomas for tuberculosis surveillance” challenge.

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The company successfully completed Phase 1 and the additional funding will support the development of a prototype as part of Phase 2 of the challenge.

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GoodLeaf Farms has secured a $78 million syndicated debt financing from CIBC and Farm Credit Canada (FCC).

The funding is supporting the company’s expansion of its network of indoor farms across Canada, with new farms in Calgary and Montreal opening later in 2023.

The new operations will add 200,000 square feet of production to GoodLeaf’s capacity, each able to produce approximately two million pounds of locally grown, fresh leafy greens each year.

FCC Senior Relationship Manager Fred Oickle said they are pleased to be a part of GoodLeaf expanding its operations, allowing it to provide nutritious food to Canadians.

“Their growth is a tremendous example of the innovation that is driving the future of food production in Canada,” Oickle said.

GoodLeaf is the only Canadian vertical farming company to produce nutrient-dense, pesticide-free baby greens and microgreens throughout Canada.

Export Development Canada has made an equity investment in the company.

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Ontario farm organizations are speaking out against a bill that would impact farmers.

The National Farmers Union – Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, along with commodity and agricultural organizations are opposed to Bill 97 and the proposed Provincial Planning Statement.

The proposal would allow for three lot severances per farm parcel in prime agricultural areas province-wide for residential, non-farm uses.

OFA President Peggy Brekveld said it will impact all Ontario farmers now and in the future.

“It will fragment and permanently remove farmland from productive agricultural use, and limit farm business growth,” Brekveld said in a news release. “Ontario’s productive farmland is a scarce resource, making up less than five per cent of all the land in the province. Agricultural production is the most valued and best use of this land.”

Farmers can speak up on the legislative proposals by sending letters from the OFA or NFU websites.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW