NEWS

Canada invests in energy-efficient grain dryers

21 August 2023

PORT OF JOHNSTOWN, ONTARIO, CANADA — The government of Canada will invest up to C$2 million for the Port of Johnstown, Ontario, to purchase and install a new energy-efficient grain dryer, helping local producers get their grain to market sooner and lowering the risk of spoilage experienced in previous seasons due to limited drying capacity.

The investment announced Aug. 18 by Francis Drouin, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, comes under the Adoption Stream of the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) program. The program supports the adoption of clean technologies, with a priority on those that meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The new grain dryer with heat capture and air recycling features will minimize fuel consumption by 20% to 40%, or more than an estimated 344 tonnes of CO2e, annually. Across Ontario, the ACT Program has supported 113 projects to date, including 40 grain dryer projects, representing a total of C$46.5 million.

“Across Eastern Ontario, our government is committed to working closely with farmers to reduce CO2 emissions and develop technology to prevent further climate change,” Drouin said. “By investing in the Port of Johnstown, we continue to establish the right building blocks to get to net zero by 2050.”

The Port of Johnstown is the industrial center for the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal and is a key stakeholder for the agriculture sector, providing services to more than 1,600 farmers in the region.

“We are proud to be partnering with the government of Canada and investing in the Port of Johnstown’s infrastructure through the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program,” said Robert Dalley, general manager, Port of Johnstown. “This will enhance our current grain services to our local producers while utilizing newer systems that will limit the impact to the environment.”