Canadian governments invest C$6.9 million into crop research

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced nearly $6.9 million for crop-related research through the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). The funding is being awarded to 42 projects.
 

This funding is part of the $26.7 million Government of Saskatchewan agriculture research budget for 2014-15.
 

Projects to receive funding this year include studies to improve lentil varieties, enhance wheat midge resistance in wheat, decrease oil losses from canola dehulling, and reduce the risk of pathogen contamination on fresh fruits and vegetables.
 

Third party funding is a key component of many ADF projects. A large number of industry partner organizations contributed $3.4 million in additional funding to the crops-related projects announced today. Almost two-thirds of this funding is being provided by Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) although there are many other partners as well, including the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission and the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers.
 

Funding for ADF projects is provided under Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.