EVERYONE IS INVITED TO FARMWORKS GENTLE DRAGONS SESSIONS! . . . THE NEW WAY INTO FARMING . . . OPPORTUNITIES FOR CANADIAN BLUEBERRIES ABOUND . . . FPINNOVATIONS PARTNERS WITH NATUREX ON FOREST-DERIVED MOLECULES . . . SIXTH YEAR OF FCC AG SAFETY FUND NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO FARMWORKS GENTLE DRAGONS SESSIONS!
Source: FarmWorks Are you interested in starting, or growing, a farm or food-related business in Nova Scotia? Have you heard about FarmWorks “Gentle Dragons?”They ask questions and make suggestions! During November the Dragons will be travelling around Nova Scotia hearing from farmers and food producers who may need money, mentoring, or marketing. We’d love to hear about your business! Everyone interested in food is welcome! Would you like to meet and hear from local producers, enjoy local food and conversation, and learn about FarmWorks and other organizations? (read more)

THE NEW WAY INTO FARMING
Source; Country Guide
A decade ago, a fresh-faced group of graduates jumped into a grain industry beaten down by prices and Prairie drought, and a livestock industry ravaged by the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) debacle. Perhaps the biggest wonder is that in the classrooms of Canada’s agriculture colleges, some of the top students still wanted to farm. But they did. So they did what any smart business person would do; they looked for viable alternatives and applied their formidable brainpower and passion to that goal. Two of those top graduates were Mark Bernard from P.E.I. and Jonathan Bouw from Manitoba. They had gone to college as mature students to pursue a career in farming, and somehow they made it work. Today both are farming… unconventionally. (read more)

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CANADIAN BLUEBERRIES ABOUND
Source: FCC In North America, blueberry consumption has grown from 272,000 tonnes in 2010 to over 400,000 tonnes in 2014. Demand in Europe has also increased, growing from 55,800 tonnes in 2010 to nearly 100,000 tonnes in 2014. Increasing incomes in Asia has shifted consumption trends towards more small fruits including blueberries. Asian consumption has increased 248 percent from 15,000 to over 52,000 tonnes over the 2010-2014 time period. Even more impressive is imports of blueberries into Asia, having increased over 2,300 percent from 2008 to 2012. It is anticipated the growth will continue and could potentially triple over the next decade. (read more)

FPINNOVATIONS PARTNERS WITH NATUREX ON FOREST-DERIVED MOLECULES
Source: Pulp & Paper Canada
A strategic partnership to develop active molecules derived from Canadian forest biomass for food industry and cosmetics applications has been announced by research and development FPInnovations and Naturex, a global leader in specialty plant-based natural ingredients. Through its extensive knowledge of the forestry industry and related sectors, FPInnovations will both ensure access to Canadian forest biomass and contribute additional expertise in extractable wood derivatives. (read more)

SIXTH YEAR OF FCC AG SAFETY FUND NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Source: NSFA
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) in partnership with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is proud to announce a call for applications to the 2016 - 2017 FCC Ag Safety Fund. The Fund, now in its sixth year, helps charitable and non-profit groups deliver agricultural safety training across Canada in a community setting. (read more)