The initiative will support crop development, feed production, production security, biorefining technologies and health-related product development. Projects and programs under portions of this initiative will benefit both Alberta's crop and livestock sectors by ensuring adequate supplies of high quality feed. Focus Areas: 1. Enhance crop industry competitiveness through improved genetics, integrated crop management and supporting market development and access. 2. Add value to biorefining and bioindustrial development through increasing research capacity and supporting selected research technologies. 3. Assist with development of Health and Wellness products and supporting research. Objectives: 1. To improve the competiveness of Alberta's various crop industries, and to improve the competitiveness of Alberta's livestock industries through the production of high- quality nutritious feeds. This will look at both improvements to the crop itself, to the way crops are produced and to identification, surveillance monitoring and control of pests and diseases that are a threat to production security. Competitiveness may extend to industry-based market development and activities related to gaining or assuring market access. 2. To support continued development of biorefining and bioindustrial capacity in Alberta. This builds on ACIDF's past investments in fibres, biopolymers, extraction of high-value materials from crops and scale-up equipment. 3. To focus on products and product development research. This may include efficacy testing, safety issues, and due diligence required to get to market. This initiative will favour a narrow view of specific products and specific processes. Funding:       Original: $5.5 million       Remaining: $4.5million (2/14/2012) ACIDF Deliverables: 1. Specific technologies and practices to improve production and reduce risks 2. Specific technologies, products and practices related to biorefining, industrial products, and health/wellness products. 3. Technology network developments and events to attract additional investment and commercialization, including extension activities.

Focus on Smaller Crops Fund 2008 follows a number of highly focused initiatives, limited either by eligible projects or by finanical matching limitations. This resulted in funding being limited for a number of crop industry sectors and for smaller developing industries. For this reason, Fund 2008 will be preferentially directed to proposals involving the smaller and less supported crops. Where possible proposals will be directed to Fund 2006 (the matching fund) because of a requirement on ACIDF to spend those dollars first, and to extend the use of these limited dollars as far as possible.  

© ACIDF -  Mar 2013