Expertise

• Areas of Expertise and Interest
• Projects

• Agricultural Production
  The growing of field crops such as potatoes and other vegetables, as well as the production of livestock (e.g. swine, beef, dairy) and livestock products, is a major area of focus for the Canadian Agro-Sustainability Partnership.
• Agriculture Facility and Equipment - Design and Procurement
  CASP has expertise to assist with design, construction, procurement, and environmental considerations for agriculture facilities, equipment, and on-farm systems (e.g. manure handling, swine systems, etc.).
• Aquaculture
  The cultivation of aquatic animals and plants for food is a major growth industry. Increased consumer demand for higher quality, environmentally friendly food products has led to 25% of world fish requirements coming from aquaculture.
• Coastal Areas and Island Agriculture
  Coastal areas and islands have unique constraints relating to agriculture. Limited land area, erosion, and other environmental considerations all affect the manner in which agriculture is undertaken in coastal areas and on islands. CASP is headquartered in Prince Edward Island, Canada, which is a small, intensively farmed island, and our members have great expertise in ensuring the compatibility of agriculture and competing development interests and dealing with major coastal issues such as climate change impacts and adaptation.
• Capacity Building/Development
  Institutional strengthening and capacity building involves developing an organization's core skills and capabilities in order to build increased effectiveness and sustainability. This process can assist in identifying and addressing issues, and gaining the insight, knowledge, and experience needed to solve problems and implement change. CASP can help strengthen capacity from the farm level, to government extension services, to policy and decision making at the regional and national levels. We can also provide agricultural training services including conferences, seminars, and on-site demonstrations.
• Environmental Sustainability
  Environmental sustainability can be defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Environmental sustainability is a major part of our work and is best achieved when integrated with other important elements of a society and economy. CASP has the expertise to assess the sustainability of projects already implemented, as well as designing projects which take into account local sustainability in the short and long terms.
• Food Processing Equipment
  Conveyors, packaging machines, freezers, cookers, pasteurizers, boilers, food analyzers, bottling and canning systems , and other specialized tools are just a small selection of the enormous amount of food processing equipment in use today. Selecting and purchasing this equipment can be a difficult, time consuming task in itself, and requires defining requirements, evaluating alternatives, acquiring and installing the equipment, and more.
• Food Processing Plants
  The world's food is increasingly presented to the consumer in processed rather than fresh product form. CASP can design, outfit, and provide management services for new or modernized vegetable (e.g. potato chip, fry, canned/frozen packs), meat (e.g. beef, pork, poultry), and fish processing plants.
• Food Safety
  The issue of food safety is increasingly important in today's world. Food safety problems and consumer concerns have given rise to governments around the globe making great efforts to address this essential aspect of public health. In the United States, an estimated 76 million cases of foodborne disease occur each year, and diseases caused by major pathogens alone may have costs of up to $35 billion annually. Although the percentage of individuals suffering from foodborne diseases each year in industrialized countries may be as much as 30%, the developing world is where these problems hit the hardest.
• Gender Equality
  Gender Equality is a key result area for CASP. Eliminating discrimination on the grounds of one's sex and in the allocation of resources or access to services is an integral part of sustainable development. By providing equal opportunity and strengthening the systems and capacity to achieve gender equality, we can enable women and girls to realize their full human rights and potential, and to develop sustainable livelihoods. Tools such as education and gender awareness training to systematically incorporate gender-sensitve perspectives play an important role in CASP's development projects.
• Livestock Breeding/Genetics/Nutrition
  Care and breeding of livestock requires in-depth knowledge in several areas. Genetic evaluation, selection procedures, sexual behaviours, reproductive technologies, feeding, housing, and nutrition are all important aspects of breeding quality livestock with desired traits.
• Marketing, Branding, and Economics
  CASP can provide a wide range of marketing, branding, and economic services for agriculture projects and organizations.
• Results Based Management (RBM)
  Results-Based Management (RBM) is a management philosophy and approach that emphasizes development results in planning, implementation, and reporting. RBM helps to manage more effectively by approaching project activities to better meet expected results rather managing solely on the basis of the activities themselves. CASP employs RBM collaboratively with stakeholders to provide simple, transparent, and broadly-applied management techniques to clarify project goals and achieve the desired results.
• Vegetable Storage Systems and Facilities
  Agricultural crops in storage must be maintained in appropriate environmental conditions to prevent deterioration and disease, as well as to provide a consistent, reliable product. Proper vegetable handling and storage requires specialized knowledge and is an important component of food safety and usage.
• VISTA Management
  Vital Information Systems and Technologies for Agribusiness (VISTA) Management.
• Workshops, Conferences, and Seminars
  Along with other instructional and networking opportunities, CASP can provide full package services for workshops, conferences, and seminars, including planning, implementation, marketing, and more.

Projects CASP and its members have been involved in projects worldwide and have partnered with major public and private entities. Some examples of recent activities include:

• Asia
  • Small Farmers Adapting to a Global Marketplace and Sustainable Agriculture Development components of the China-Canada Agriculture Development Program in China with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (click here for more info in CASP News).
  • Multi million dollar project to prepare a Master Plan covering all sectors in Ampara District, Sri Lanka, the most devastated area after the December 26, 2004, tsunami.
  • Three year comprehensive services project covering all of Sri Lanka, for the Ministry of Agricultural Development for that country.
  • Small food safety project in Vietnam.
• Africa and Middle East
  • International Agricultural Capacity Building (IACB) Project - Food Safety for CIDA/Agriculture Canada in Kenya (click here for more info in CASP News).
  • Potato multiplication and temperature controlled vegetable storage in Syria with Attar Group.
• Eastern Europe
  • Technical assistance contract for International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank. The project involved seven technical specialists reviewing the operations of five large Russian farms and recommending improvements (click here for more info in CASP News).
  • Food Safety Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) program in Southeast Europe with Wizard Food Systems of Serbia.
• Latin America and Caribbean
  • Major aquaculture development feasibility study and subsequent investment/implementation in Paraguay, in partnership with AIDA Fish Farm, the largest tilapia producer in Paraguay.
• Worldwide
  • Organizational delivery of Global Sustainable Agri-Food Challenges and Opportunities Conference (in planning stage).