PROVINCE INVESTS IN FEED PROCESSING INDUSTRY

The Government of Saskatchewan announced support for the province's growing livestock feed industry today.

"The $257,000 investment in the Prairie Feed Resource Centre's (PFRC) feed processing pilot project will help accelerate industry expansion," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "I am pleased to make another investment in Saskatchewan agriculture. Our province has a great variety and abundance of crops for making feed. This project will help capitalize on our competitive advantages."

The centre will use the funds to help develop a pilot scale feed plant that researches, develops and tests new feed products.

"The plant will allow the University of Saskatchewan to move ahead with the Centre of Excellence concept in feed research and education," College of Agriculture Acting Dean Graham Scoles said. "The facility will build on our livestock, crop and feed research capacity, and enable new worldwide partnerships with other Centres of Excellence."

Partnerships will be explored with research institutes, such as the Canadian International Grains Institute, the University of Alberta, Kansas State University, and other interested groups, such as Cargill and Husky.

"This investment will fill existing gaps in the industry," PFRC Chair Harold Yelland said. "It is important to establish links between the pilot project and developing new commercial processing plants in Saskatchewan."

Preliminary studies by the U of S indicate potential for processing facilities in aquaculture feed ingredients, pea-canola blends, and crop screening pellets.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031