Agri-Business

Though Alberta's International Region is a powerful industrial hub, agriculture is an important sector providing economic stability and diversity to a region heavily focused in energy-related business. Agriculture involves the science, art and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. The corporately-run research facilities in this sector are dedicated to the development of new agricultural technologies and supplies, and encouraging the growth and expansion of this vital industry in highly competitive domestic and global markets.

Value-Added Food Processing

The Food Processing Development Centre was opened at Leduc in 1984 to further the goal of encouraging growth in the Agri-Business sector. It is a modern, fully-equipped pilot plant and product development laboratory facility. Staffed with experienced food scientists, engineers and technologists, the centre offers services designed to strengthen and expand the capability of Alberta's food processors to meet the challenges of the marketplace through application of new technology and the development of new or improved products and processes.

In 2007, a state-of-the-art Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator was opened beside the Food Processing Development Centre. The first of its kind in Canada, the facility is making Alberta a global leader in value-added food processing, allowing Agri-Business entrepreneurs the opportunity to gain the skills and expertise needed to grow their business and bring their food products to the world. The goal of the Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator is to develop the innovative ideas of Alberta's food processing sector by bringing them to the world and helping the industry grow.

Agricultural businesses in Alberta's International Region benefit from access to two world-class processing institutions and to global markets through the transportation infrastructure. Future opportunities of this important economic sector include the possibility of creating a centre of agricultural excellence through a Food Park. In addition, as current agricultural trends lead to further diversification on farms, opportunities will present themselves to generate more growth thus reducing the economy's reliance in any one sector.

Capital Region Local Food Initiative

The Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Authority (EDA) introduced a vision of 'Developing a Local Food Market' in September 2009. Since that time, several partners from across the Capital Region have joined forces. Together, the Leduc-Nisku EDA, Community Futures Capital Region, Leduc Food Processing Development Centre, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County, City of Spruce Grove and Lamont County, are working to establish a support network and oversight council to guide and advance the development of a competitive and sustainable local food market in Alberta's Capital Region.

Momentum is building for the Capital Region Local Food Initiative and work is focusing on increasing access to markets, removing barriers to growth, and identifying local food products with the highest market potential. As successes are realized, opportunities continue to rise in the development of a strong local food market.