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Innovation, Business and Rural Development
November 16, 2011

Local Manufacturer to Secure Industry Certification

The Provincial Government is providing ICUS, a manufacturer of environmentally-friendly bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers used in agriculture, with $71,092 to enable its employees to acquire the necessary training for the company to secure important industry certification.

The particular standard that ICUS is targeting is International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008, which deals with the principles and processes surrounding the design, development, and delivery of a product or service. ISO is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards.

“Increasingly companies are looking for ways to become more efficient as a means of improving productivity and competitiveness,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. “This certification will ensure that ICUS produces a consistent quality product, enhances its marketability, while supporting the skills development of their employees. By undertaking this process the company is investing in its future.”

Previous Provincial Government investments in ICUS, totalling more than $600,000, have supported projects such as the construction of a 10,000 square foot microbial manufacturing facility in Mount Pearl that will produce environmentally-friendly bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers.

“The success of emerging industries is one of the key areas of growth in this province," said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Service NL and MHA for Topsail. "This certification shows the commitment of the team at ICUS to top quality in their management and control processes. I am extremely pleased to see the continued success of ICUS, as a shining example of the type of innovative solutions which are being developed each and every day in this province."

The company produces bio-fungicides, designed to protect crops from diseases, and bio-fertilizers, or inoculants, which promote plant health and growth through the use of naturally occurring bacteria and fungi. These products, commonly called microbials, help increase crop yield, control disease, and improve plant health, while reducing chemical requirements, which are important economic and environmental issues in today’s global agricultural industry. Demand for biological products in agriculture is rising, largely because industry preferences continue to move towards reducing dependence on chemicals and increasing the use of environmentally-friendly alternatives.

“Achieving ISO-QMS certification ensures the company will have the tools in place to satisfy customer expectations by providing high quality products that meet world standards,” said Gordon Genge, President, ICUS. “This will open the door to global supply opportunities in the agricultural crop inputs sector where ISO certification is mandatory."

This initiative was funded through the Workplace Skills Enhancement Program. Administered by the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, the program helps small and medium-sized enterprises in strategic sectors acquire and increase the skills of employees to enhance productivity and global competitiveness. It is funded by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Agreement and the Strategic Training and Transition Fund.

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Media contacts:

Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca
Janice Cave
Constituency Assistant to the
Honourable Paul Davis
MHA for Topsail
709-729-6670
janicecave@gov.nl.ca 

Gordon Genge
President
ICUS
709-351-0905
info@icus.ca
 

2011 11 16             12:20 p.m.

 
 
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