Biotech Updates

Canadian Wheat Alliance to Develop New Varieties

May 22, 2013

The Governments of Canada, and Saskatchewan, and the University of Saskatchewan announced the creation of the Canadian Wheat Alliance (CWA), a new initiative to coordinate research and development projects to improve wheat varieties by reducing losses due to extreme weather conditions such as drought, heat, cold, and diseases.

The CWA will invest approximately $97 million over the first five years to support wheat improvement research, advance Canada's wheat crops, and ensure its global competitiveness through the combined expertise of the National Research Council of Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan.

University of Saskatchewan President Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac said "Through this alliance, we will continue to work with our partners to further strengthen the knowledge and tools needed to improve wheat."

For more information, read the news release available at: http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/news/releases/2013/wheat_nrc.html.