OTTAWA,
ON, July 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the
Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-Food, announced 13 semi-finalists, under the Agricultural
Methane Reduction Challenge, who are working to advance
economically viable and scalable practices, processes, and
technologies designed to reduce enteric methane emissions produced
by cattle.
The $12-million Challenge,
launched in November 2023 in
partnership with Impact Canada, uses a staged approach to move
innovators through the process of developing and deploying their
solutions in the cow-calf, dairy and feedlot sectors. The
first stage of the Challenge attracted 86 applications from
innovators across Canada and
internationally. The 13 semi-finalists' entries span a diverse
range of areas including feed additives and related technologies;
production efficiencies and animal management systems; and pasture
and grazing management approaches.
Each semi-finalist will receive up to $153,846 and move on to the prototype development
stage of the Challenge. Over the next eight months, semi-finalists
will continue to advance their solution and may be eligible to
receive additional funding of up to $230,000. From the 13 semi-finalists, a total of
up to 10 finalists will be selected in Spring 2026. Each eligible
finalist will receive up to $500,000
to assist with testing their solution's effectiveness in reducing
enteric methane emissions. In the final stage of the Challenge,
finalists will compete to win one of two grand prizes of up to
$1 million, to be announced at the
end of 2028.
For the list of the Challenge semi-finalists, please visit
the Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge website.
Quote
"The Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge is bringing
together innovators from right across the country who have new
ideas about how to reduce agricultural methane emissions. I would
like to congratulate all of the semi-finalists and wish them luck
as they compete in the next phase of the Challenge."
- The Honourable Lawrence
MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Quick Facts
- With over 11 million cattle and calves on 72,275 farms and
ranches, Canada is one of the
largest exporters of sustainable cattle in the world.
- In 2022, agriculture was responsible for 27% of Canada's total methane emissions, the majority
coming from enteric fermentation produced by beef and dairy
cattle.
- Canadian herds are also responsible for preserving
approximately 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon in Canadian soil, and
protecting over 60 endangered species who live in the wild
grasslands where they graze.
- The Challenge builds on the Government of Canada's actions to reduce methane emissions
through Canada's Methane Strategy,
in support of the Global Methane Pledge, 2030 Emissions Reduction
Plan, and the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy.
- An independent and voluntary jury, composed of subject matter
experts from a diverse range of backgrounds, plays an important
role in reviewing solutions and recommending winners at each stage
of the Challenge.
- Entries under the Challenge were evaluated against established
criteria, including net reduction in enteric methane emissions,
innovation, scalability, economic viability, commercialization
and/or adoption, environmental co-benefits, and social
assessment.
- Projects and final funding are subject to negotiation of a
contribution agreement.
Associated Links
- 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan
- Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge
- Faster and Further: Canada's
Methane Strategy
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