Tag Archives: Innovation

Agricultural Development

Apply Now for The Premier’s Award For Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program

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The Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program recognizes outstanding agriculture and agri-food related innovators including producers, processors, and agri-food organizations.

The objectives of the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program are to:

  • Recognize and encourage innovators in the agri-food sector
  • Foster farm-level innovation
  • Raise awareness about the importance of agri-food innovation and its impact on the Ontario economy

Continue reading Apply Now for The Premier’s Award For Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program →

Agricultural Development

Premier’s Award 2017 Winner – Greenbelt Microgreens

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Innovation is vital to improving existing products, creating jobs, and growing Ontario’s economy. The Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence recognizes and celebrates the innovation of Ontario producers, processors, agri-food organizations, and rural communities. Greenbelt Microgreens is the recipient of the 2017 Premier’s Award, for their work in growing microgreens year round in the Ontario greenbelt. Continue reading Premier’s Award 2017 Winner – Greenbelt Microgreens →

Agricultural Development

Now Accepting Applications for the 2017 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program!

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The agri-food sector has always been innovative in running businesses, adapting practices and collaborating to compete in the world economy. To help spur and to celebrate this innovative spirit, the Government of Ontario created the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program.

Have you developed and implemented a unique product or process that helps foster innovation in Ontario’s agriculture and food sector? Apply and you could be eligible to receive one of these awards:

  • Premier’s Award (one award valued at $75,000)
  • Minister’s Award (one award valued at $50,000)
  • Leaders in Innovation Awards (three awards valued at $25,000 each)
  • Provincial Awards (45 awards valued at $5,000 each)

Continue reading Now Accepting Applications for the 2017 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program! →

Agricultural Development

The Premier’s Award For Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program is Accepting Applications

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The Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program recognizes outstanding agriculture and agri-food related innovators including producers, processors, and agri-food organizations.

The objectives of the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program are to:

  • Recognize and encourage innovators in the agri-food sector
  • Foster farm-level innovation
  • Raise awareness about the importance of agri-food innovation and its impact on the Ontario economy

Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on April 28, 2017 to be eligible for a chance to receive one of the following awards: Continue reading The Premier’s Award For Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program is Accepting Applications →

Economic Development

3 Lessons on Innovation from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario Annual Conference

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I had the opportunity to attend the 60th annual Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) conference that took place in February. Delegates from across Ontario included economic development officers, municipal elected officials, staff from several Ontario ministries, and industry leaders representing manufacturing, business, planning, IT, and tourism.

The theme this year was Driven by Innovation. The following are my top three takeaways from the EDCO conference. Continue reading 3 Lessons on Innovation from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario Annual Conference →

Agricultural Development

2016 Top 5 Award Winning Innovations

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On December 7, 2016, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced  the winners of 10th annual Premier’s Awards for Agri-Innovation Excellence. These awards are presented to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to innovation in the Ontario agri-food sector. The Premier’s award was given to Dairy Quality Inc., a company that created a mobile app that provides farmers with instant and accurate somatic cell counts.  Using the tool, dairy farmers can identify problems and take action before a cow develops advanced mastitis. That’s good news for cows, consumers and for farmers.

Continue reading 2016 Top 5 Award Winning Innovations →

Agricultural Development

Diversifying the Cash Crop Industry in Northern Ontario

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Northern Ontario, with its cooler growing conditions, is known to grow good quality forages and spring grains. However, the past three decades has seen a diversification and expansion of the cash crop sector in the north.

With fewer livestock farms in the north, resulting in fewer acres of forages being grown (less livestock, less feed required) and the expansion of overall farm acreage, producers have been looking at different crop alternatives. Continue reading Diversifying the Cash Crop Industry in Northern Ontario →

Economic Development, Organizational Development

Success Story: Launch Pad – Youth Activity & Technology Centre

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LaunchPad, a new Youth Activity and Technology Centre in Hanover, is a place where young people between the ages of 12 and 18 can explore the world through a wide range of activities – art, digital media, software, music, entrepreneurship, computer hardware, hands-on and just plain fun. Staff at the centre encourage the young people to see how their talents and innovative ideas can help them and their communities grow.

At LaunchPad, young people learn important skills that can improve their employability, and make new connections with employers and local leaders in their communities. The hope is that they’ll stay and work in the area after they graduate high school.

Continue reading Success Story: Launch Pad – Youth Activity & Technology Centre →

Economic Development

Ontario’s BR+E Program Receives International Award

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Ontario’s Business Retention + Expansion (BR+E) program received international recognition as an award winner for an innovative, effective and exemplary BR+E Program at the most recent Business Retention + Expansion International Conference (BREI), held in San Antonio, Texas on May 25th, 2016. This award recognizes Ontario’s achievements on a global scale. The provincial program was also a runner-up in the BR+E Project/Program Impact award category.

Continue reading Ontario’s BR+E Program Receives International Award →

Agricultural Development, Economic Development, Organizational Development

Ontario Greenhouse Business Enhances its Competitive Edge with Growing Forward 2 Funding

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Andrew Hendriks Jr. knows that in his business, he must constantly evolve. It’s the only way to stay competitive in the greenhouse industry.

Continue reading Ontario Greenhouse Business Enhances its Competitive Edge with Growing Forward 2 Funding →