We’re excited to announce our partnership with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) to offset carbon emissions associated with animal-based protein served at MBLL casino restaurants.  

MBLL contributed $72,300 to our Grassland Stewardship Agreements project, helping cover the infrastructure costs of several miles of fencing for Ritchie Bison Owner/Operators Jim and Bridie Ritchie and their neighbour Brian Powell of Souris, Manitoba.  

A Grassroots Project 

Reflecting on the future of their ranch, Bridie shared, “[Jim] and I asked ourselves, ‘How can we leave this farm and land better than we found it for the next generation of farmers?’” The ‘Keep Grazing’ Grassland Stewardship Agreements program we have provides an opportunity to do just that. 

“It’s truly a grassroots project,” said Stephen Carlyle, our CEO. “By helping the Ritchies with fencing costs, we are supporting the rotational grazing of the bison. This allows areas of native grassland to rest and put down large root systems while the bison graze in other areas. These healthy root and plant systems, with the addition of manure from the bison themselves, really helps keep carbon in the ground that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.”  

Creating Healthy Grasslands 

Thanks to the funding from MBLL, the Ritchie and Powell Grassland Stewardship Agreements will promote carbon sequestration, expand grazing capacity, and allow for sustainable growth of the Ritchie Bison farm while maintaining and enhancing the native grasslands and biodiversity on the landscape.  

“Today, most of the remaining grasslands in Manitoba are privately owned and are used in cattle or forage production,” said Carlyle. “Healthy grasslands are essential to sustainable livestock production and ranchers are essential managers of grasslands and help produce the ecological goods and services grasslands provide.”  

Partnering for Nature’s Benefit 

Committed to innovation, collaboration, and environmental stewardship, MBLL is proud to be involved in this project. They closely track the carbon emissions generated from the farm to the table from its casino restaurants’ protein sales. We both hope to offset these emissions through this new partnership.  

“It’s nice to work with Manitoba Habitat Conservancy to find ways to go back to the land to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Donna Dagg, Manager of Sustainable Development at MBLL. “Nature-based solutions are really exciting. It’s something our leadership team, our customers, and our employees are all looking forward to learning more about.” 

Measuring the Impact 

To measure the impact of this project, we will be using a custom Outcome Assessment Tool developed in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The tool will provide an estimate of the greenhouse gas reduction and other environmental benefits.  

Carlyle, our CEO, adds, “We are excited about this unique project partnership and look to creatively collaborate with more corporations and other groups on wildlife conservation and greenhouse gas emission reduction in the future.”