Rural Development Meeting Held In Canada
News Date October 17, 2007
New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Dr. Miley Gonzalez led a NASDA delegation to a meeting of the Tri-lateral Working Group on Rural Development, October 10 to 12, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The working group is part of the Tri-National Agricultural Accord which provides an opportunity and mechanism for Canadian provinces and U.S. and Mexican states to exchange information, views and recommendations on various aspects of the agriculture and food industries in their respective jurisdictions.
Alberta Agriculture Provincial Minister George Groeneveld hosted the meeting. Other NASDA participants included Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach, chair of NASDA's Rural Development and Financial Security Committee; Montana Agriculture Deputy Director Joel Clairmont; California Agriculture Trade Director Robert Tse; and California Agriculture Executive Director Helen Lopez. Michoacan Agriculture Secretary Carlos Naranjo led the Mexico delegation with participants from a total of six Mexican states.
Delegates toured a world-class innovative research and technology transfer center that focuses on food safety and valued added processing. Presentations were also made on the development of renewable energy products, a mobile slaughtering unit project, financial assistance services and programs for Alberta producers and agri-food businesses. Mexico presented information on programs that improve access to credit by rural producers and training materials and inputs for the production of vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
The working group will continue to advance progress on the strategic directions for 2007 and will work in implementing and exchanging information in 2008 to address workforce issues; bioenergy development and programs; and promotion of nutrition programs to consumers and producers. A summary of outcomes is posted on the Accord website at http://www.nasda.org/accord/. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)