The Canadian and Manitoba governments, through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), have announced a significant investment in Assiniboine Community College (ACC). Over the next five years, over $1.3 million will be dedicated to enhancing horticulture production through innovative and sustainable practices and technologies.
Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay, together with Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn, highlighted this investment as a continuation of ACC’s growth in applied research and extension programming.
This funding aligns agricultural education with innovation, industry collaboration, and applied research. It builds upon the success of the previous “Field to Fork” initiative, which greatly exceeded enrollment targets and developed new technologies.
Currently, ACC is conducting research in high tunnel crop production and passive greenhouse settings. These studies aim to extend crop availability in Manitoba and foster local food supply options.
Additionally, the college is exploring resilient crop varieties and systems adaptable to extreme weather, including collaboration with northern Indigenous communities on passive-solar greenhouses for year-round production.
Minister MacAulay emphasized the importance of this research, stating, “Research, education, and training in agriculture all play a vitally important role in maintaining Canada’s global competitiveness. This funding will help ensure our farmers in Manitoba can continue to meet the growing global demand for our high-quality products, while strengthening food security right here at home.”
Minister Kostyshyn addressed the future challenges for producers, highlighting ACC’s role in offering innovative solutions. He noted, “ACC’s applied research program will offer innovative ways in which producers can meet these challenges, and this funding will help ACC continue to solve the issues and challenges of the horticulture process, develop new products and technologies and improve business processes and grow their research program to meet the needs of the industry and community.”
Tim Hore, Dean at ACC, expressed gratitude for the investment, underscoring its impact on sustainability and food security. “Having our governments invest in Assiniboine’s research and education gives us the ability to further expand our efforts and continue to work toward solutions around sustainability and food security – both key to the future of our industry,” he said.
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a $3.5-billion initiative supporting Canada's agri-food sectors, with a significant portion dedicated to programs designed and delivered by provinces and territories. This recent funding for ACC marks a significant step in enhancing sustainable agricultural practices and education in Canada.