Federal And Provincial Partnership Funds Innovative Research In Agriculture And Agri-food Sector

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $326,688 in innovative research projects aimed at strengthening the agriculture and agri-food industries through the Ag Action Manitoba program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson, announced today.

“Research projects like those announced today allow agriculture and agri-food businesses in Manitoba to stay strong and prosperous,” said Bibeau. “Our government’s investments will ensure the sector’s sustainable growth and competitiveness.”

“Funding available from Ag Action Manitoba supports the vital work of our research community in advancing our province’s priorities for the agriculture sector,” said Johnson. “This support for research and innovation is the key that opens the door to new discoveries, novel approaches and technologies, ensuring Manitoba’s continued success in the national and global agriculture markets.”

The Ag Action Manitoba program for research and innovation offers two streams of funding – basic and applied research and development activities, and investment related to capacity-building.

Applications are received for projects in four focus areas, including climate change adaptation, environmental sustainability, food, diet and health, and sustainable feed grains supply and utilization.

Today’s announcement includes funding for promising projects focused on grain innovation and crop production. They include:

• Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers Inc. – development and evaluation of a fully automated, made-in-Manitoba rover for the rapid collection of environmental data to improve soybean adaptation to drought conditions, purchase of specialized lab equipment for crop protein research, development of the carbon footprint of typical pulse and soybean production in Manitoba and assessment of alternatives to reduce carbon intensity;
• Ducks Unlimited – maximizing the potential of high-yielding winter wheat in Manitoba;
• Manitoba Crop Alliance Inc. – grain dryer efficiency;
• Manitoba Horticulture Productivity Enhancement Centre Inc. – improvements to the soils of Manitoba’s potato industry through decreasing wind erosion and variable rate irrigation; and
• University of Manitoba – noxious Amaranthus weed (pigweed) identification using molecular markers and genome editing of functional genes in Brassicas napus to advance plant resistance to environmental conditions.