Lethbridge Polytechnic is among the local groups that will be involved in bolstering agriculture in Alberta. (Photo: Lethbridge Polytechnic)

By David Opinko

Funding announced for Lethbridge-area agriculture projects

Mar 6, 2025 | 11:19 AM

Local projects will aim to improve agriculture in a variety of different ways.

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), part of the federal government, has announced over $1.8 million for four non-profit organizations to support Alberta’s value-added agriculture industry.

Terry Duguid, Minister for PrairiesCan, says the sector is a key economic engine, fueling growth and prosperity in communities across Alberta.

“Our government is proud to help small- and medium-sized businesses build capacity, advance innovative technologies, and seize new opportunities in global markets,” says Duguid.

New Harvest Canada

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Edmonton-based New Harvest Canada will receive $1 million to advance a more resilient food production system through cellular agriculture practices. They are partnering with 12 different organizations, including Lethbridge Polytechnic, for research.

Lethbridge Polytechnic’s contribution will focus on the sugar beet industry.

Dr. Chandra Singh, chair of Results Driven Ag Research and director of the Advanced Post-harvest Technology Centre, says Lethbridge Polytechnic hopes to improve food security across Canada well into the future.

“In our region, we are looking to use sugar beets as an energy source for cell culture medium to facilitate this research, providing a long-term market for sugar beet producers in southern Alberta,” says Singh.

Alberta Sugar Beet Growers

The Taber group will get a grant of $223,647 to commercialize and scale up sugar beet storage solutions.

They also plan to “unlock new markets” for Alberta-grown sugar beets.

This funding builds on a previous investment from PrairiesCan of over $242,000.

Economic Development Lethbridge

EDL plans to use a grant of $405,285 to build and implement an investment strategy for Canada’s Western Gateway in southern Alberta.

The goal is to assist businesses in accessing new markets.

The project will involve collaboration with municipalities along the Alberta section of the CANAMEX trade corridor to build a sustainable supply chain in the region.

PrairiesCan also announced funding for a group from Fort Vermillion in northern Alberta for research into reducing the impacts of climate change on farming practices.

Altogether, PrairiesCan says these investments will directly benefit 350 small and medium-sized businesses in Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food sector.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.