Issues in Contemporary Agriculture:
Environment

Feds to Back Quebec Thyme Processing

(Country Guide, November 4, 2009)  A Quebec company developing a natural disinfectant made from thyme oil will get over $830,000 in federal loans and funding to commercialize their product, with the goal of making thyme a new cash crop for farmers.

Sherbrooke-based Laboratoire M2 launched its product, Thymox, in September 2008 as a biodegradable, non-toxic, non-corrosive disinfectant for use in livestock barns and food processing plants, acting against bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's five-year Agri-Opportunities program will put up $487,494 for Laboratoire M2's goal of expansion to new Canadian and international markets by "meeting regulatory requirements, securing a patent for the product's use in the food processing industry and purchasing equipment."

The production is expected to create 17 jobs by its third year of operation, the government said in a release last week.

Laboratoire M2 is working with Quebec producers in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to select the best thyme varieties that can be grown by Canadian farmers to make Thymox, the government said.

This project, the government said, is expected to generate $3.6 million worth of annual demand for thyme by its fifth year of production.

Canada Economic Development, the federal agency in charge of delivering economic development funding in Quebec, has also pledged a $350,000 loan for Laboratoire M2 to begin industrial production of Thymox and for domestic and foreign marketing.

"Food safety and traceability have become essential elements when it comes to protecting Canadian agricultural products and consumers," Laboratoire M2 president Serge Auray said in the government's release.

"By investing in our laboratory, the government of Canada is supporting an innovative initiative that will contribute to greatly improving the manner in which our farms are disinfected, and will foster the creation of quality jobs in our region."