The Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF) is accepting nominations for the 2012 Award of Excellence for Innovation in Agriculture and Agri-Food.
This award celebrates innovative ideas, products, projects or programs generated by the agriculture, agri-food and bioproducts sector that deliver economic, environmental or social benefits to British Columbia.
“B.C.’s agriculture and agri-food industry depends on innovation to keep it sustainable and competitive in increasingly challenging times,” says Stuart Wilson, IAF chair. “The Investment Agriculture Foundation is proud to celebrate the innovative thinkers who help drive the industry forward through their ideas and products.”
Previous recipients have included Bill Vanderkooi, president of the Bakerview EcoDairy in 2011, Roger Bailey of Kalwood Farms in Oyama in 2010, and the Nutri-Loc Ingredients Corporation of Delta in 2009.
Vanderkooi was awarded for his commitment to innovative, sustainable and environmentally responsible dairy farm practices and education. Bailey was recognized for seeing the potential in recycled rice harvesters to make the work of orchard pickers easier, and Nutri-Loc received the award for its clean energy solution that turns culled fruits and vegetables into healthy food products.
The award is open to B.C. residents, B.C.-based associations and non-profit organizations, as well as Canadian-based corporations and for-profit companies doing business in B.C. Innovations will be evaluated for their:
• Originality and uniqueness;
• Degree of economic, social and/or environmental benefit to British Columbia;
• Human interest potential.
Nominations close Nov. 30. The 2012 award winner will be announced in January at the annual Agri-Food Industry Gala in Abbotsford.
More information and nomination forms are available at www.iafbc.ca.
The Investment Agriculture Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that manages and distributes federal and provincial funds in support of innovative projects to benefit the agriculture and food industries in British Columbia.
— Investment Agriculture Foundation