Altario School receives funding to explore sustainable cattle feed solutions

Altario School, nestled right on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, is spearheading an initiative to address a critical question: Can an indoor hydroponic system provide consistent, year-round, affordable, and nutrient-rich feed for cattle?

The K-12 school, known for its student-led farm and commitment to agricultural education, has received a substantial boost in the form of $199,000 from Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR). This funding comes under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, supported by both the federal and provincial governments.

Altario School’s project aims to explore sustainable cattle feed solutions amidst the challenging backdrop of drought.

The heart of the project lies in investigating whether an indoor hydroponic system can provide a reliable and consistent source of feed for cattle. Hydroponics, which involves growing plants without soil, offers several advantages. By controlling environmental factors such as light, temperature, and nutrients, Altario School hopes to create a year-round supply of high-quality feed for livestock.

To help achieve this goal, Altario School is collaborating with local members of the agriculture industry,. hydroponic system manufacturers, nutritionists, accountants, and college research teams. This combined effort involves eight organizations working together to find innovative solutions to the challenges posed by drought.

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lawrence MacAulay, praised the initiative, recognizing the importance of youth-driven solutions for Canada’s agricultural sector. “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow,” says Minister MacAulay, “and projects like this show that the future of Canada’s agriculture sector is in good hands.”

Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for innovation to support Alberta’s agricultural sector.