Agricultural Development Institute Created

Agriculture and Marketing Minister Ernest Fage today announced the creation of an Agricultural Development Institute, part of the province's ongoing initiative to find new ways to service the agricultural industry.

Mr. Fage also announced the appointment of a board of directors and a national search to select an executive director.

"This new organization will really be quite unique in Canada in that it will be industry-led and will be able to respond quickly to industry's needs and challenges," said Mr. Fage. "Incorporation and appointment of the board of directors are just the first steps. The next steps are building an organization that is dynamic and effective and I have every confidence that this board will do just that."

The following members of the Federation of Agriculture's council of leaders will represent producers on the board: Peter Clarke of Cambridge Station, Kings Co., will serve as chair; Elspeth McLean-Wile, of Wileville, Lunenburg Co.; Peter Hill of Port Williams, Kings Co.; and Ken Hunter of Whycocomagh, Inverness Co. Government representatives include: Peter Underwood, deputy minister of Department of Agriculture and Marketing; Garth Coffin, principal of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College; and Rick Whitman, Agriculture and Marketing's transition co- ordinator.

"It was important to me to have industry members be the majority on the board, as well as to have the chair from industry. This is an organization that will be totally in touch with what farmers need and want," said Mr. Fage.

"We are committed to making this a valuable and effective organization for farmers and to having it up and running as soon as possible," said Mr. Clarke. "Our first priority is to hire an executive director and that process has started. Once that position is filled, things will move very quickly, but we want the executive director to be a large part of developing the mandate, programs and services and staffing needs."

The Institute, which is incorporated under the Nova Scotia Companies Act, was the key recommendation of an industry restructuring committee established in early summer to consult with farmers on a new way to deliver specialist services.

The Institute will operate at arm's-length from government with an annual commitment of $2.2. million from the Department of Agriculture and Marketing.

The board met for the first time last week and selected the executive search firm, The Caldwell Partners, to lead a national search for an executive director. Once that position is filled, work will begin on developing a business plan, finalizing a corporate structure for the Institute and hiring specialists in a variety of disciplines.

kjd September 1, 2000 10 :42 a.m.