Biotech Updates

Crop Research Boost in Canada

January 13, 2012

A record $8.3 million in crop-related research funding from the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) is being awarded to 34 crop-related research projects. The news was announced recently by the Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud and Member of Parliament Kelly Block (Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar), on behalf of federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

The funds will be used to ensure Canadian producers have the tools to meet the demands for safe, reliable agricultural products, both at home and abroad. Crop-related research projects receiving funding in 2012 include:

  • improving yields and disease-resistance in wheat, barley and flax;
  • increasing lentil yields and marketability through fertilization and genetic analysis;
  • studying infrared technology to screen out fusarium-infected wheat and barley seeds;
  • nutritional and quality analysis of peas, oats and saskatoon berries;
  • increasing profitability for wheat and lentil producers through genetic developments;
  • reducing yield losses in pulse crops due to drought; ยท increasing flax seed size to improve yields;
  • identifying clubroot resistant genes in canola; and
  • identifying factors that cause blackleg disease in canola.

The complete list of approved projects is available at http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/ADF.

See the news at http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/index_e.php?s1=n&s2=2012&page=n120112