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Joined by federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Premier Scott Moe announced Tuesday the province and Ottawa have jointly distributed $9.8 million for crop production research projects this year.
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The cash pool is funding 39 projects through the provincial Agriculture Development Fund. The feds and the province are splitting their contributions 60-40, respectively.
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This is the second year the cash pool and/or the number of projects have shrunk: In 2019 more than $12 million were available for 44 research projects; in 2020 there were $10.98 million in the pool, funding 47 projects.
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Although from 2014 to 2018 the cash pool never breached the $8 million mark.
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Moe said the province expects the funded research projects should, by 2030, increase provincial crop production 鈥渢o 45 million tonnes," bump agriculture exports to $20 billion and help value-added revenue increase to $10 billion.
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All of those goals are part of the government鈥檚 growth plan, he said.
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This year, like in 2020, the University of Saskatchewan is claiming the majority of the funding and projects: $5.78 million for 18 studies.
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The majority of approved projects are for pulses (11) and crops related (15).
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Pulses research is getting the most money, $4.48 million. Moe gave an inadvertent nod to this, saying farmers here help feed people in 麻豆视频 Asia 鈥渋n Mumbai, Delhi and Dhaka.鈥�
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Pulse crops 鈥� lentils and chickpeas 鈥� are regular protein sources in that region of the world.
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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is receiving $2.52 million for 12 research projects.
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One tiny research project, earning $117,700 in funding, intends to see if spinach, kale and bok choy producers can make a go of it in Saskatchewan.
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Working with Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification, lead investigator Jazeem Wahab seeks to, among other objectives, identify cultivators that can harvest the plants; 鈥渞efine irrigation scheduling techniques to increase yields; minimize disease incidence鈥� in the leafy greens; and 鈥渁ssess storage effects on shelf-life and quality attributes.鈥�
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Bibeau also used Tuesday鈥檚 news conference to say the feds are to review and reform the Canada Grain Act.
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鈥�(It) hasn鈥檛 had major updates in almost half a century,鈥� she said, announcing the start of online consultation, which goes until April 30.
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鈥淲e need your ideas on changes to the Act that will ensure Canada remains a strong competitor in the global grain market,鈥� she said.
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Bibeau鈥檚 ministry is to collaborate with the Canadian Grain Commission on the changes.
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