WESTLOCK COUNTY – Westlock County council voted in favour of entering into a service agreement with Gateway Research Organization (GRO), a non-profit agricultural research group based primarily in Westlock County.
The agreement comes into effect in 2025 and the funds will come out of the 2025 operational budget. The county will provide support to GRO and pay them a single payment of $5,000 after GRO produces their annual report to a meeting of the county’s Agricultural Service Board (ASB).
GRO will also conduct two public research presentations, workshops or public outreach events. The topics of the events will be determined by the ASB.
All of the work done by GRO on the research projects will be available to the public, said Kevin Trueblood, Westlock County’s agriculture and environmental services co-ordinator in his Nov. 12 report to council.
In July, Jay Byer and Kabal Singh from GRO, told council that they could help the county with activities beyond the current resources of the municipality's agriculture department.
GRO is involved in research directly related to crops and environmental sustainability. They provide agricultural research, demonstrations, and extension for producers to enhance farm productivity and economic returns.
