Winnipeg, Manitoba
November 12, 2008
A new $6-million federal
government-grower group agreement is paving the way for better
coordination of larger scale canola agronomy research projects
by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers across
western Canada. The Prairie Canola Agronomy Research Program
(PCARP) is the result of an agreement involving
Canola Council of Canada,
along with the Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC), the
Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA), the Saskatchewan
Canola Development Commission (SCDC), and AAFC.
“The Canadian agriculture industry, and especially our farmers,
are innovators and entrepreneurs,” said federal agriculture
Minister, Gerry Ritz. “This ground-breaking program combines
government with industry to ensure that Canadian canola will
remain one of our most valuable crops."
The investment of grower dollars in this agreement demonstrates
just how much growers value AAFC agronomy research, according to
Clarence Assenheimer, chairman of ACPC’s research committee.
“This new agreement builds on the huge success of ACPC’s
previous 10 year commitment to research with AAFC. With our $1
million dollar investment, we saw tremendous gains in canola
agronomy research that has enhanced the sustainability of this
industry,” he says. “It is great to see this current agreement
include collaboration with Saskatchewan and Manitoba growers and
researchers.”
A newly-established management committee is responsible for
ensuring that all projects fit with the research direction of
each of the three provincial grower groups. A canola agronomy
workshop is planned for 2009, which will allow for research
updates and discussion, as well as refinement of research
priorities for the upcoming year.
“Being able to leverage grower dollars through AAFC program
funding means more money can be directed to better canola
agronomy projects,” says Wayne Bacon, SCDC’s research chair.
“Our money not only goes further, but we also have a hand in
directing what type of projects are done.”
The canola industry has a strong commitment to science and
recognizes the need to develop new solutions to health,
environment and production issues in order to meet the goals of
Growing Great 2015, its ambitious plan to achieve 15 million
tonnes of sustained market demand and production.
“Farmers are integral to the success of this industry so there
is tremendous value in investing in research that will provide
practical solutions to production issues that growers face,”
says JoAnne Buth, President of the Canola Council of Canada.
“This agreement is a great example for Canadian Agriculture of
how committed collaboration between growers and government can
help move an industry towards its goals,” says Barry Chappell,
MCGA research chair. |
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