New study shows economic benefits of irrigation in Alberta

CALGARY, Aug. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Every cubic metre of water delivered for irrigation creates three dollars to the province's GDP and two dollars in labour income. 

This is one of the key conclusions in a study funded by the Canada-Alberta Growing Forward 2 program and commissioned by the Alberta Irrigation Projects Association (AIPA).

The study also shows that for every dollar of irrigation related crop, livestock and food processing sales, total GDP increased by $2.54 and labour income increased by $1.64.  Overall irrigation contributes $3.6 billion each year to the province's GDP averaging $2550 per acre of land irrigated.  The governments of Alberta and Canada are the beneficiaries of $1.3 billion in income annually from irrigation-based economic activity. 

"We have known that irrigation is the lifeblood of many communities in southern Alberta but we wanted to be able to quantify our overall economic impact in Alberta" explained AIPA Chair Erwin Braun.

"A robust irrigation system plays an important role in the economic, environmental and social fabric of Alberta's agriculture industry. Our government will continue to support, build and maintain an efficient and sustainable irrigation system to ensure our producers are able to grow and diversify the industry while keeping thousands of Albertans employed," said Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

Other key conclusions in the study undertaken by Paterson Earth and Water Consulting from Lethbridge include:

• The irrigation agri-food sector contributes about 20% of the total provincial agri-food sector GDP on 4.7% of the province's cultivated land base.
• Almost 90% of the GDP generated by irrigation accrues to the region and the province and 10% to irrigation producers.
• Using labour income as the criteria, 89% of the irrigation-related benefits accrue to the region and province, and 11% to irrigation producers.
• Because of the growth of irrigation in southern Alberta, irrigated crop and livestock production has resulted in 38,000 jobs and food processing has created in another 17,000 full time equivalent positions.
• Benefits from irrigation water and infrastructure used for non-irrigation purposes, such as recreation, hydropower generation, and drought mitigation, generated an additional $85 million to the provincial GDP and $71 million in labour income.

"We also wanted to know the industry's economic challenges for the future." Braun said.  "And what the study shows is that there is a clear need for governments to work with industry to plan for potential impacts of climate change on agriculture, both positive and negative."

The study calls for long term water and drought management strategies, including increasing Alberta's water storage capacity and better communication with international markets about the environmental and economic sustainability of Alberta's irrigation agri-food production and new food production opportunities to meet growing world-wide demand.

NOTE TO EDITORS:  COPY OF STUDY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ATTACHED.  FULL STUDY AVAILABLE FROM THE AIPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

SOURCE Alberta Irrigation Projects Association

Image with caption: "Alberta Irrigation Projects Association (CNW Group/Alberta Irrigation Projects Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150820_C5579_PHOTO_EN_479216.jpg

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2015/08/20/20150820_C5579_PDF_EN_479231.pdf

Erwin Braun, Chair, AIPA, [phone]; Ron McMullin, Executive Director, AIPA, [phone]