Five Farm Projects Receive Agriculture Enhancement Grants to Benefit Local Agriculture

We’re pleased to confirm the recipients of the 2022 Agricultural Enhancement Grants. A total of $170,000 was granted to five farming initiatives that met the project criteria of agriculture innovation with a technology focus, including research and development, that will benefit the local agriculture industry overall.
We’ve been providing grants to the Agricultural sector in Abbotsford since 2013. “We are proud to partner with the City of Abbotsford to provide grants annually to our farming community,” said Marcus Janzen, our Board Chair and Chair of our Agricultural Enhancement Grants committee.  “ACF has provided more than $1,000,000 through our Agriculture Enhancement grants over the past nine years in support of one of Abbotsford’s key economic drivers.” added Janzen.
This year, the Agricultural Enhancement Grants program focused on innovation in advancing technologies or research to benefit the agricultural sector in Abbotsford. Each of the grant recipients have projects that meet these criteria and the committee is excited about their potential. Our Agriculture Enhancement Grants Committee is comprised of local farmers and individuals with a passion for serving the Abbotsford farming community.
Wendy Neufeld, our Executive Director, remarked that there were a number of worthy applications. “Our Agriculture Grants Committee chose five excellent projects whose outcomes will have a positive impact on agriculture in our community”. The recipients and associated projects include:
AMS (Air Microfluidic Systems Inc) & WML (University of Waterloo Microfluidic Lab) – A low-cost and fast fresh berry harvester without bruising or damage
                                  
Artisan Sake Maker Inc – Developing Best Practices for Rice Production in the Fraser Valley

Bakerview EcoDairy Ltd – Development of a living research lab focusing on sustainable beef cattle finishing      
  
Circular Harvest Farm Co. – The MushROOM By Circular Harvest                                       

Sarcomere Dynamics Inc – Field Trial – Automation of Agricultural Labour

A presentation of the grants was held on June 22^nd at Nature’s Pickins Market featuring a lunch using locally sourced farm produce/meats. Each recipient was given the opportunity to provide an overview of their project and the expected outcomes. We wish the grant recipients all the best with their projects and look forward to seeing local innovation in farming grow!

To learn more about our Agricultural Enhancement Grants program, click here.