Agri-Food Canada and Saskatchewan Agriculture announced $7.7 million in funding for 30 crop-related research projects through Saskatchewan鈥檚 Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).
In addition, the governments are committing $6.25 million in operating funds through the ADF to the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan over five years.
The announcement was made by Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on behalf of Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart on January 9.
鈥淚nvestments in agricultural research are critical to ensuring continued progress and increased efficiency for farmers,鈥� said Goodale.聽 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why the Government of Canada strongly supports crop research, like these cost-shared projects in Saskatchewan that will help support the continued growth and innovation of Canada鈥檚 agriculture and agri-food sector.鈥�
鈥淚nvesting in innovative, crop-related projects and supporting research organizations like the CDC not only provides Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers with the very latest in research and development, but also allows our province to be competitive on the world stage and helps attract some of the best researchers in the industry,鈥� said Stewart. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very proud of our investments through Agriculture Development Fund. They create future growth opportunities and help improve the bottom line for producers and food processors.鈥�
This year鈥檚 projects are diverse and focus on issues important to Saskatchewan agriculture.聽 Some examples include: research to develop more clubroot resistant canola varieties; improve fusarium head blight resistance in durum wheat; better control of root rot in pea and lentils crops; and increasing the use of faba beans in pet food and fish feed to create another value-added use for a Saskatchewan pulse crop.
The ADF announcement into the 30 research projects leverages significant additional funding from industry partners, in addition to government funding.聽 More than $3.1 million has been committed from the following partners: the Western Grains Research Foundation; the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission; the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers; the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission and the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission.
鈥淲orking together is a fundamental value of the agriculture industry so we appreciate the opportunity to contribute and collaborate on these worthwhile projects,鈥� said Dave Sefton, chair of Western Grains Research Foundation.
鈥淲e are grateful for funding that supports our operations, and for continued investment into research and innovation from the Government of Saskatchewan,鈥� said Dr. Kofi Agblor, CDC Managing Director at the University of Saskatchewan. 鈥淐ontinued investment from the province affirms its commitment to our clearly demonstrated mission of improving economic returns for farmers and the agriculture industry of western Canada, as well as our new vision of being a world-class crop improvement organization that delivers advanced crop genetics for society.鈥�
Funding for ADF is part of the $26.8 million the Government of Saskatchewan committed to agriculture research in the 2017-18 provincial budget.聽 Funding is provided under the federal-provincial-territorial initiative, Growing Forward 2.
In July 2017, federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture reached agreement in principle on the key elements of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five year, $3 billion investment that will set a solid foundation for the future of Canada鈥檚 farmers and food processors, and continue to help them grow, innovate and prosper.聽 The partnership is set to launch on April 1, 2018.
For more information, including a complete list of funded projects, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca and search 鈥淎griculture Development Fund.鈥�
