$8 MILLION GRANTED TO AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

The Government of Saskatchewan announced more than $8 million in agriculture research funding today. Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud awarded $8.23 million in funding for 58 agricultural research and development projects through the province's Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).

"We are very blessed as a province to have the resources and the skilled personnel to be able to keep agricultural research on the cutting edge," Bjornerud said. "Our government is committed to the future of agriculture. Strategic investment in research and development is necessary to ensure we are leaders in the industry."

The current round of ADF funding provides support for research projects undertaken by organizations such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the National Research Council, the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, the Prairie Swine Centre and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).

Funded projects include the development of improved breeding technology for canary seed, improved disease resistance and DNA marker development, nutritional enhancement of lentils, the development of high oleic flax with enhanced oil concentration and genomics research aimed at understanding cattle's appetite.

"I am encouraged by the innovation I have seen in these proposals, and the great work that will be done by these scientists," Bjornerud said. "For each dollar of increased producer returns, an estimated additional dollar accrues to other sectors of Saskatchewan's economy. These include agri-value sectors, transportation and marketing, manufacturing, financial services, and wholesale and retail trade.

ADF provides funding to support institutions, companies and industry organizations to carry out research, development and value-added activities in the agriculture and agri-food sector. The results produce new knowledge, information and choices in technologies, techniques and varieties for farmers, processors and input suppliers.

All ADF 2007-08 approved projects are listed and described on Saskatchewan Agriculture's website at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca under "Research".

For details about ADF applications, contact the Agriculture Research Branch in Regina at 306-787-6566.

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For more information, contact:

Scott Brown
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4031
Email: sbrown@agr.gov.sk.ca