USask receives millions for innovative crop research projects

More than $4.5 million is going to 24 USask-led, crop-focused research projects through the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF), a joint federal and provincial government program for supporting crucial agricultural research projects. 

Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture David Marit made the announcement at the Saskatchewan Crops Forum on Tuesday.  

Overall, 39 new crop research projects received funding through the ADF. Of those projects, more than half of them are spearheaded by USask researchers.  

“The incredible agricultural research and researchers at USask are unquestionably among the best in the world,” said USask Vice-President Research Baljit Singh. “This level of support is a testament to the strength and innovation of USask’s unique agricultural research ecosystem that supports Saskatchewan agrifood producers and enables us to continue to be what the world needs in this ever-important sector.” 

In addition to the ADF funding, multiple USask experts are part of a research team led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada that received $2.5 million through the Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) for a project studying the management of herbicide-resistant kochia and wild oat plants.  

The ADF and SRI programs are supported by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a 5-year (April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities, and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.