There is $60 million up for grabs by Alberta innovators. On Friday, the Government of Alberta announced a new competition aimed at tackling some of the province’s biggest environmental and economic challenges. The Agriculture, Water and Land Challenge will offer $60 million through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) for projects that can help save water, restore land and help farmers and forests yield more. ERA says Alberta’s soil, land and water are critical for the economy and face growing challenges from climate change, soil degradation, reclamation liabilities and increasing waste volumes. The challenge aims to find technologies and solutions that can deliver measurable environmental and economic outcomes. “Canada has no shortage of promising technologies. The challenge is getting them into the market. ERA bridges that gap by helping innovators prove their solutions in the real world,” said ERA chief executive officer Justin Riemer. Among other things, the province said it is looking for new ways to: Farmers, ranchers, tech developers, businesses, Indigenous communities and municipalities are all eligible to apply to receive between $250,000 to $10 million per project. Projects must be piloted, demonstrated or deployed in Alberta and show “clear benefits.” Any funding must be matched by private funding on a 1:1 basis. “Alberta has some of the best innovators in the world, and we’re challenging them to put their ideas to work,” said Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. Applications will be open starting Friday and until Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. More information can be found on the ERA website.
