SUMMER 2015VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

PEST CONTROL ON THE GOPrecision agriculture isn’t just for cereal crops anymore. BC-based company, Semios is using wireless technology in orchards and vine-yards to monitor pests and apply pheromones instead of commercial pesticides for crop protection.

The system is a breakthrough for producers looking to reduce or replace insecticide controls, and is already expanding applications in orchard management.

Pheromones are chemical signals used by many animals to communicate. In agriculture, they are used to change or disrupt insect behaviors, like mating, to reduce popula-tions. While they have long been recognized as a viable protection solution, there has been no reliable system to deliver them when and where they were needed – until now.

“We thought that perhaps technology could enable and improve adoption of pheromones in crop protection,” says Michael Gilbert, CEO of Semios. “Using our network, we deliver enough of the right pheromones at the right time to get the same effect as we would with other controls.”

The Semios system uses cellular networks to connect a system of sensors, including traps and monitors, to remotely trigger a high

burst application of pheromones for specific pests from an aerosol dispenser. The work to develop and test the application was supported through the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program delivered by IAF.

Using the Semios system farmers require only one can per acre instead of the 600-1,000 of the pheromone dispensers used in passive release systems. Data is collected from the network of sensors, and delivered to an online control centre that producers can access from their computer or mobile devices. The network and equipment is managed by Semios when farmers subscribe to the service, reducing the risk of the investment and learning curve.

“We are talking about real time interactive control of these pests,” says Gilbert. “The way the system is built, growers from their phone can change when and where the pheromones are delivered on demand, and within 10 minutes every single sensor in their field will be on the new schedule.”

The system was first applied to control coddling moths in apples, and has since expanded to nine different pests in seven different crops across the United States, Europe and Canada. Currently 200 farms, representing 7,000 acres of orchards and vineyards, are using the Semios system.

“IAF delivered the first funding program to support our agricultural projects, and they have been a great partner for us,” says Gilbert. “The adoption of our metered systems got us in to big farms, and allowed

us to further develop the platform, and now we do everything from remotely monitoring insect pressure in real time, as well as disease risk, frost risk and soil moisture irrigation. We now have added all these modules that truly provide a platform for the grower looking to move into the next stage of precision farming.”

“WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL TIME INTERACTIVE CONTROL OF THESE PESTS,” SAYS GILBERT.

Under Growing Forward 2, the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program has funding available to support the commercialization and adoption of innovation projects that benefit individual enterprises and positively impact the BC agriculture and agri-foods sector as a whole. For more information on the program and the application process, visit iafbc.ca/funding-opportunities/innovation or contact the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC at 250.356.1662 /funding@iafbc.ca.

FUNDING: $140,000 FROM AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA AND THE BC MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH THE CANADA-BC AGRI-INNOVATION PROGRAM UNDER GROWING FORWARD 2, A FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL INITIATIVE. (INN018)

The latest from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia

GROWING TOMORROW

1 Pest Control on the Go

2 Bright Lights of Innovation Shine at IAF Showcase /Lillooet Unveils Agricultural Area Plan

3 Down Cows Relieved with Warm Bath / Commercializing Technology for Food Safety Planning

4 Let’s Get Social Join the #CdnAg Conversation!

5 Export Initiatives Soar Overseas

INS

IDE

2 GROWING TOMORROW

BRIGHT LIGHTS OF INNOVATION SHINE AT IAF SHOWCASELeaders and innovators from production agriculture and food processing sectors, regional governments and research organizations came together in April for the 2015 Showcase of BC Projects in Abbotsford.

The event, held in conjunction with the IAF Annual General Meeting, featured exhibits from over 40 projects funded through IAF that have demonstrated significant impact in BC’s agri-foods industry.

“The opportunity to showcase projects that are important to our industry and supported by IAF is a pleasure,” says Geraldine Auston, Director of Communica-tions for the BC Cranberry Marketing Com-mission. “The ability to network with others in agriculture is very valuable as we have many overlapping interests and challenges, and a venue such as this allows us to come together and exchange ideas.”

The successes of these projects can be measured in many ways. Vitalus Nutrition and Semios are in the process of commercializing products from processes developed with the help of funding from the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program. A pilot project funded by the provincial Aquaculture Development Fund with the ‘Namgis First Nation gave rise to Kuterra, a commercial-scale Land Raised™ Atlantic salmon enterprise on Northern Vancouver Island.

The Buy Local Program has supported domestic marketing campaigns across sectors, like “Buy BC Floral” with the United Flower Growers’ Co-op, and the BC Chicken Marketing Board’s “Chicken Squad” social media campaign. At the same time, companies like Global Gourmet Foods, DeeBee’s SpecialTea Foods, and Naturally

Homegrown Foods were able to share their experiences of expanding into international markets with the support of the BC Agrifood & Seafood Export Program.

From dairy hoof health, to plant health, technology development to consumer research and education initiatives, BC’s agriculture and agri-foods organizations are moving the industry forward and IAF is proud to support this important work.

FUNDING FOR THE CANADA-BC AGRI-INNOVATION PROGRAM AND THE BC AGRIFOOD & SEAFOOD EXPORT PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD CANADA AND THE BC MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER GROWING FORWARD 2, A FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL INITIATIVE. FUNDING FOR THE AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND AND THE BC GOVERNMENT’S BUY LOCAL PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE BC MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE.

LILLOOET UNVEILS AGRICULTURAL AREA PLANLillooet was once the tomato capital. Today, ranching and forage crops dominate the local agricultural scene and the community is taking a closer look at agriculture’s future.

Last fall, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District adopted an agricultural plan for Lillooet and the surrounding area, known as Area B. This was the culmination of a two-year planning project partially funded through IAF’s Agricultural Planning Program.

Twenty-eight per cent of the Lillooet region’s population live on reserve land. According to the plan’s authors, the extensive input of the local indigenous community makes this plan unique amongst agricultural plans in BC. That’s a sentiment shared by Mickey Macri, a director of the regional district.

“We’re especially pleased by the involvement and support of the northern St’át’imc communities,” says Macri. “This plan is a true collaborative effort.”

Early stages of the project focused on getting an accurate picture of the current state of agriculture, including an inventory, GIS mapping and water modelling.

This information formed the basis for public dialogue with local citizens and agricultural stakeholders to focus priorities and identify action items. The plan was officially adopted by the regional district’s board in October, and has since been endorsed by the District of Lillooet. The St’át’imc have endorsed the process. The area covered by the plan is St’át’imc territory.

While local agriculture has had its share of ups and downs, it is now being viewed for its economic development potential.

“This plan is important because it assembles in one place the information about this unique agricultural area and makes it available to potential investors,” says Travor Chandler, a small organic orchardist in Lillooet and a member of the Area B agricultural advisory committee since it was created. “This should guide a shift in the use of agricultural land to higher value crops which generate more employment.”

Kevin Whitney, chief of T’it’q’et, one of the six St’át’imc communities invited to participate in the process, says exploring agriculture’s economic development and employment opportunities got him interested in collaborating. Unemployment is high within St’át’imc communities.

“We will use this experience, and the relationships we built with the regional district, to continue to pursue our goals of economic development and governance in our territory,” says Whitney.

With the planning complete, attention now turns to implementation. There are plans afoot to give the working group a role in implementation and a coordinator is being hired this summer to assist with the priority action items, including a new farmers’ institute.

The Lillooet agricultural plan can be found online at: www.slrd.bc.ca

FUNDING: $25,000 THROUGH THE FORMER FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL SAFETY NETS FRAMEWORK. (B0016.35)

VISION FOR AGRICULTURE: SQUAMISH-LILLOOET REGIONAL DISTRICT ELECTORAL

AREA B, DISTRICT OF LILLOOET AND ST’AT’IMC TRADITIONAL TERRITORY, BEST

AGRICULTURAL REGION IN BC, WELL KNOWN FOR INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY,

ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND FOOD SECURITY - A COMMUNITY WORTH EXPERIENCING.

The latest from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia 3

COMMERCIALIZING TECHNOLOGY FOR FOOD SAFETY PLANNING

How can smaller players in the food industry assure their customers about the quality and safety of their products? Some are choosing Icicle, a cloud-based technology that helps food producers manage their food safety programs.

“Icicle is a solution for small and medium food processors,” says Steve Burton, CEO of Burton Software in Richmond, the company behind Icicle. “They are typically developing a food safety program for the first time.”

Icicle walks users through a hazard analysis and helps them decide how they will control those hazards, drawing from a large database of ingredients, products and potential hazards. Resulting food safety plans can help during audits

and recalls or meet third-party certification requirements.

While Burton launched Icicle about three years ago, funding from the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program helped the company to commercialize the technology. The project focused on public relations, web content and industry relations, as well as enhancements to the software.

Burton learned that food processors with a plan already in place, were the easiest to convert to Icicle. They understood the importance of food safety planning and liked the idea of cloud-based document management. P&S Frozen Foods, a producer of ready-to-bake specialty sausage rolls, is one such example.

“P&S operate a federally-regulated meat processing facility in Vancouver, so they already had a food safety plan in place, but it was maintained manually,” says Burton. “This was automated with Icicle and they’ve even granted access to federal inspectors.”

At the other end of the spectrum are the processors with no plan at all, and little understanding of food safety principles in general. This group requires much

more support. Burton adjusted their own business model to accommodate this and also developed two webinars.

“Chewters Chocolates is a confectionary company in Richmond that specializes in chocolates for casinos,” Burton says. “They’re new to food safety planning and Icicle is growing with them.”

Icicle has not gone unnoticed. Ready to Rocket named Burton in its list of emerging BC technology companies, Frost & Sullivan gave it their award for cloud computing innovations, and it is one of three finalists for the Rising Star Award from the BC Food Processors’ Association.

Burton says they now plan to make Icicle more intelligent. “Users will be able to enter a product and Icicle will suggest process steps, hazards and controls,” he adds.

FUNDING: $104,665 FROM AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA AND THE BC MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH THE CANADA-BC AGRI- INNOVATION PROGRAM UNDER GROWING FORWARD 2, A FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL INITIATIVE. (INN125)

DOWN COWS RELIEVED WITH WARM BATHWeighing often more than 600kg, dairy cows can become victims of their own weight if they’re lying down too long after an injury or illness.

Often referred to as “downer cows,” this phenomenon is considered a major welfare issue in the dairy industry.

“There are a variety of techniques and devices that have been used to assist recumbent cows, such as hip lifters, slings, inflatable balloons and flotation therapy” says Lisa McCrea, DVM at Agwest Veterinary Group. “But there is little scientific evaluation of elevating downer cows and the effect on animal well-being.”

Inspired by how water therapy helps people recover from injury, a Danish dairy farmer developed the Aqua Cow Rise System, a portable tank that slowly fills with warm water, lifting cows to a standing position. Showing promise in Europe and the US, Agwest Veterinary Group purchased

one of these specialized bovine float tanks for use in BC.

“The Aqua Cow Rise System is like physiotherapy for cows” explains Yanne Stojkov, DVM and researcher with the UBC Animal Welfare program. “It is typically used three to four times until the animal gets better.”

With funding through the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program, Agwest studied the efficacy of the system, offering the services to Fraser Valley dairy farmers free of charge. Researchers gathered data as they responded to farms with a down cow, and then monitored the animal for stress and recovery.

“We have found this system to be more successful than other lifting techniques,” says Mark Schurmann of Locarno Farms in Abbotsford. “It is a time-consuming process, but when you have a healthy cow when it’s complete, it’s well worth it.”

FUNDING: $21,450 FROM AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA AND THE BC MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH THE CANADA-BC AGRI-INNOVATION PROGRAM UNDER GROWING FORWARD 2, A FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL INITIATIVE. (INN195)

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED!

Visit the new and improved iafbc.ca! Catch up on industry success stories and funding opportunities, and check out our new online features. Take the quiz to test your funding eligibility, search for projects in your region or sector, meet our directors and more!

PROGRAM FUNDING BYCONTACT

T 250.356.1662 F 250.953.5162 E info@iafbc.ca W iafbc.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor Sarah Rostami Contributing Writers Cheryl Davie, Tamara Leigh, Sarah Rostami, Sandra TretickDesign Maslany CreativePrinting RR Donnelley Photos stock images

ENEWS

For the latest IAF news, program updates & upcoming events, subscribe to our e-news-letter Growing Today at: iafbc.ca/sign-up-for-our-mailing-list

Publication Number 40675600

UPCOMING APPLICATION DEADLINES

visit iafbc.ca

IAF DIRECTORS

Ken BatesChair, Lower Mainland

Philip BergenAgriculture & Agri-Food Canada Liaison

Len BouwmanFraser Valley

Jack DeWitSecretary, Fraser Valley

Walter FritschePeace River

Arzeena HamirVancouver Island

Bar HayreVice Chair, Fraser Valley

Alistair JohnstonFraser Valley

Dale KrahnFraser Valley

Dennis LapierreOkanagan-Shuswap

Don LowKootenays

Bert MilesTreasurer, North Okanagan

Ken Nickel BC Ministry of Agriculture Liaison

Ed SalleThompson-Okanagan

Kalpna SolankiLower Mainland

Michelle SoucieAgriculture & Agri-Food Canada Liaison

IAF OFFICE

Peter DonkersExecutive Director

GROWING TOMORROW

LET’S GET SOCIAL JOIN THE #CDNAG CONVERSATION!

Traditionally, the daily workings of agriculture haven’t been broad-casted for all to see, but social media is making it easier than ever for the general public to connect and interact with the sector.

Digitization of the agriculture industry is also becoming more real and beneficial as more and more farmers have access to the internet via tablets and smartphones wherever they may be working.

With that in mind, AAFC has been stepping up its efforts to share in the digital world. Whether it’s the latest research findings and industry statistics or behind-the-scenes snapshots, there’s a lot of great information to be shared!

For example, AAFC has released several vid-eos in the past few months on its YouTube channel (AgricultureCanadaEng), including three that feature scientists from the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then videos may well be worth 10,000 because they provide so much information visually and narratively.

Stay tuned for more videos, and be sure to visit AAFC’s website (www.agr.gc.ca/eng) for more features and updates. We’re also on Twitter (@AAFC_Canada) and Flickr (AAFC_Canada) - please come have a peek for news and other fun tidbits!

EXPORT INITIATIVES SOAR OVERSEAS

Two years after the BC Agrifood & Seafood Export Program launched, BC companies representing a multitude of sectors are increasing sales and accessing new international markets.

Ethical Bean Coffee, a Vancouver-based Fair Trade Certified and organic coffee roaster, has not only been able to quadruple US sales by attending trade-shows in several states, but has also secured Japan as a new market through their US networking.

According to Viren Malik, Ethical Bean’s Chief Operating Officer, the funding is helping to fuel long-term growth for the company.

“The export program has contributed to immediate sales and created further opportunities that con-tinue to develop,” explains Malik, adding that their third and current project with IAF has led to a major private label deal that will commence in late 2015.

Vancouver’s Pacific Rim Shellfish is making similar strides overseas.

“Thanks to export funding we’ve been able to expand our presence and distribute local-quality products on an international scale,” says Ed Sang, President of Pacific Rim Shellfish.

Funding allowed Sang to attend a series of events and meetings in China, as well as conduct a trade mission to Vietnam. In less than a year, the com-pany has seen a ten percent sales increase and is making inroads with Vietnamese trade officials, potentially creating a new market for BC seafood.

Since the program began in 2013, more than $1.2 million in matched funding has been invested in over 150 projects to help BC’s agriculture, food and seafood sectors increase export sales and expand international market access.

Funding through the BC Agrifood & Seafood Export Program is available in 2015/16 to support interna-tional market development activities. Visit iafbc.ca for more information, or contact us at 250.356.1662 or funding@iafbc.ca.

FUNDING FOR THE BC AGRIFOOD & SEAFOOD EXPORT PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA AND THE BC MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER GROWING FORWARD 2, A FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL INITIATIVE.