Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. announced today a $30,000 contribution toward the new pulse field lab research addition being built at the University of Saskatchewan.

“Dow AgroSciences is encouraged to see this initiative for the pulse crop industry in Saskatchewan and is very pleased to support this investment,” said Stan Audette, Communications Manager with Dow AgroSciences in Calgary.

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) is raising capital for the construction of a world-class, multi-user pulse crop field research facility, which is being built at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.  The new facility is being built as a 14,000 square foot addition to the existing Crop Science Field Laboratory.  The addition will provide enhanced capacity and efficiency in pulse breeding, physiology, pathology and agronomy research. 

“Dow AgroSciences has been a long term supporter of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and the pulse industry,” said Dean Corbett, Chairman of the SPG Board. “We’re excited that they’ve stepped forward to make this valuable contribution.  This new facility will have a big impact on pulse research in Canada and ultimately will benefit growers as well as industry partners like Dow AgroSciences.”  A 2003 study showed that every dollar of producer investment in pulse crop research led to a $15.60 return for farmers and a $31.60 return for the industry as a whole. 

Recent progress on the fundraising portion of the project has been substantial and now with the Dow AgroSciences contribution, SPG is within $270,000 of its goal.  Of the $3 million needed to construct the facility, $750,000 will be raised from industry contributions.  Construction on the project started in November 2004 and will be completed in the summer of 2005.