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Organic Sector Market Development Initiative
The Organic Sector Market Development Initiative (OSMDI) provides funding for research and market development projects designed to strengthen Western Canada's organic grain industry.
Ten projects received a total of $200,000 in funding in the 2008-09 crop year. More information on these projects is available here.
Changes to the OSMDI program 2009-2010
The OSMDI forms a new partnership with the Organic Federation of Canada and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada.
With the support of the OSMDI committee, which includes four organic farmers, the CWB is cooperating with the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) on The Growing Forward "Organic Science Cluster". The OSMDI will become an industry sponsor for cereals research and, over the next four years, will contribute $379,869 to the fund. Some of the lead cereal scientists who will receive funding through this program have been recipients of OSMDI funding in past years. The advantage of the partnership with the OACC program is that the OSMDI research money will be matched three to one by government funding, so that over the next four years $1,519,479 will be invested in organic research thanks to the OSMDI. This is a win-win for the organic sector!
Remaining funds in the 2009 OSMDI:
A number of two- and three-year OSMDI projects from 2007 and 2008 continue to receive funding support through 2009. Funds will be distributed by the OSMDI directly for projects that do not qualify for the "Organic Science Cluster". Therefore, the OSMDI will be accepting applications for market related, education, and extension type projects, and will award $25,000 in 2009, $50,000 in 2010-11, and $75,000 in 2011-1212 and beyond.
The revised deadline to apply for funding is December 1, 2009.
How to apply
To apply for funding through the CWB Organic Sector Market Development Initiative, please review the instructions (PDF) and then complete the application form: PDF (151KB) | Word (433KB). Submit your application by e-mail, fax, or mail. The application form contains additional information on eligible projects and criteria.
Email: donna_youngdahl@cwb.ca
Fax: (204) 983-3841 (Include cover letter to the attention of Donna Youngdahl.)
Mail to:
Donna Youngdahl, OSMDI
Box 816, Station Main
Winnipeg, MB R3C 2P5
For more information, contact Donna Youngdahl (donna_youngdahl@cwb.ca or 204-983-5799) or Patty Rosher (patty_rosher@cwb.ca or 204-984-1626).
