SASKATOON听鈥撎鼴acked by听$2 million from the federal government and partner organizations,听University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers听aim to听make听Arctic pipelines stronger and safer, protect the food supply,听and improve听crop processing听with听cutting-edge technology.听
Five research teams have been awarded a total of $1.08 million from Canada鈥檚 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to lead the wide-ranging NSERC Alliance research projects. As well, partner organizations are contributing a total of $600,000 in cash and $340,000 in in-kind contributions to the projects.听
鈥淭his听major听partnered investment will听support听exciting USask听research听projects听that address complex challenges, create environmental and economic benefits, and contribute to Canada鈥檚 long-term competitiveness,鈥澨齭aid USask Vice-President Research Karen Chad. 鈥淭hese collaborative projects will also train new researchers in areas important to Canada and our partners.鈥澨�
The new research projects听with combined听NSERC and partner听funding听are:听
Developing high-strength, cold-tolerant steel for pipelines听-听$770,000听
USask engineering researcher听Jerzy Szpunar鈥攚orking听with听EVRAZ听Inc.听and CanmetMATERIALS Natural Resources Canada鈥攚ill听develop听a new听process for manufacturing听high-strength steel听adapted to听low-temperatures听(-45oC)听for听pipelines听in听northern听Canada听and听Arctic areas听around the world.听Pipelines in听cold regions听face challenges听such as听terrain frozen by permafrost or gouged by sheets of ice. The听research听could听improve the safety of gas and oil transport,听open a new market for Canadian manufacturers,听and reduce the environmental damage in听the听case of听a pipeline听failure in a sub-arctic environment.听
Using biotech to make animal feed processing cheaper and more efficient听- $697,000听
USask veterinary researcher Dr.听Matthew Loewen鈥攑artnering with biochemist听Michele Loewen听at the University of Ottawa and Western Grains Research Foundation, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and Botaneco Inc.鈥攚ill use cutting-edge biotechnologies to tweak the chemical structures of two enzymes important for removing bitter-tasting tannins from animal feed. The results will lead to more efficient and cheaper bioprocessing, yielding more palatable and safer animal feeds.鈥疶he research could have long-term applications for making new plant-based products for human consumption.听听
Improving anti-microbial use practices for the beef industry听-听$430,500听
Working with the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) and Alberta Beef Producers,听USask veterinary researcher听Dr.听Cheryl Waldner,听who holds the听NSERC/BCRC Industrial Research Chair in One Health and Production-Limiting Diseases,听will听examine听changes to听antimicrobial use and resistance听in cow-calf听operations听resulting from听recent听federal regulations听requiring听veterinary听prescriptions听for听the sale of all medically important听antimicrobials for听use听in听food animals.听The results will听inform听beef industry听stewardship practices听that听minimize antimicrobial resistance听and support听environmental听sustainability,听protecting public health, animal health,听and animal welfare.听
Using nanotechnology to decontaminate eggshells听-听$110,600听
Partnering with the Canadian Poultry Research Council and Saskatchewan Egg Producers, a multi-disciplinary听USask听team led by听Lifeng Zhang听(engineering),听Shelley听Kirychuk听(medicine), and听Karen听Schwean-Lardner听(animal and poultry science) will develop a chemical-free, nanotechnology-based surface decontamination method for treating eggshells to control microbial contamination. The results will improve food safety and reduce environment impacts.听
Making soil management听smarter听- $62,600听
To precisely manage their crops, producers need detailed information about how soil properties vary across the field.听How much information is the right amount?听Soil scientist听Angela听Bedard-Haughn听and her team,听working with听CropPro Consulting,听will听combine听machine learning,听predictive soil mapping techniques, and听strategic听field soil sampling听to determine听a cost-effective soil sampling strategy. The results could help make precision soil mapping听widely听accessible to producers.听
More information听on听NSERC鈥檚 Alliance听grants听is听available here:听
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