Monday April 28 11:18 AM EDT
New Federal Programs Designed To Advance Management Technology Of Hog
Manure
SELKIRK, Manitoba, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 1997--New federal programs are poised to create unparalleled development
opportunities for advanced technology in hog waste management for Western Canada. ThermoTech Technologies Inc. and the Canadian
Environmental Technology Advancement Corporation-West (CETAC-WEST) will host pilot projects funded by Western Economic
Diversification (WD) to develop business opportunities that address the environmental concerns associated with hog production and hog
waste management technology.
The hog industry in rural Western Canada consists of over 6,400 hog producers, producing six million hogs annually and employing over
2,000 people to work in pork processing plants in the West. Odour and water pollution are the primary areas of concern inhibiting the further
development of the industry.
"This industry is targeted as a primary area for economic growth with production forecast to double in the next five years," said the Honorable
Jon Gerrard, Secretary of State for Western Economic Diversification, during the announcement of $485,000 in funding for a new pilot
project with ThermoTech Technologies Inc. The project will establish a demonstration site for innovative hog manure management
technology. "Our goal is to capitalize on the opportunities in this industry and to ultimately create jobs and growth for Western Canada."
"ThermoTech has proven its ability to provide a totally unique solution to the problems of organic waste management. We are now ready to
establish ourselves in the agricultural sector and to provide the solution to the waste problem, while contributing to industry growth," said
Rene Branconnier, President and CEO of ThermoTech.
ThermoTech Technologies Inc's. market vision has established it as an industry leader in the delivery of true recycling technology to an
important niche within the waste management system. That niche is the removal of organic wastes from the disposal stream and placement of
such wastes into a true recycle technology.
The company will build a full-scale demonstration site on an established hog farm in Manitoba. ThermoTech owns the patent and license to
develop and commercially exploit this unique fermentation process using single cell protein technology which converts organic waste
materials to value-added products such as a dry odorless fertilizer.
Western Economic Diversification, also announced a partnership with the Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement Corporation -
WEST (CETAC-WEST) to assist in linking producers with an interest in testing new technologies with technology developers such as
ThermoTech. WD will provide CETAC with $495,000 to undertake development and coordination activities, including marketing and
information distribution required to promote this and other potential projects.
"The role of CETAC-WEST is to bring technical and commercial solutions to environmental challenges," said Joe Lukacs, Canadian Director
and CEO of CETAC-WEST. "Working with industry, government and other partners, we have reviewed the status of hog manure technology
in Western Canada and elsewhere in the world. CETAC-WEST is taking an active leadership role in putting new and advanced technologies to
work in demonstrating their economic and technical effectiveness in handling hog manure."
WD has also provided a $25,000 sponsorship for next week's Manitoba's Environmental Industry Trade Show and Business Conference,
World Wise '97, which will promote environmental technologies, skill upgrading technology transfer and the development of business
opportunities for the Manitoba environmental industry sector. World Wise '97 is being organized by the Triple S Community Futures
Development Corporation. It promises tremendous opportunities for partnerships and for economic development across the West through out
Manitoba, and in particular in Selkirk.
"WD's financial support towards the demonstration site and related projects will help move the industry forward to provide hog producers in
Western Canada with a variety of technologies to choose from and a more sustainable approach to agriculture in the West," said Dr. Gerrard.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1997 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This
initiative is an example of how this government is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their
tax dollars.
WD World Wide Web site: English - wd.gc.ca French - deo.gc.ca
CONTACT: Sean Kirby
Press Secretary
Office of the Secretary of State
(Western Economic Diversification)
(613) 995-1333
or
Randy Winnitowy
Manager, Special Programs
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 975-5940
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