GOVERNMENTS ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR AG SCIENCE AND INNOVATION IN SASKATCHEWAN

Agricultural research and development in Saskatchewan is getting a boost as a result of an agreement between Canada’s New Government and the Province of Saskatchewan on the use of $41.5 million in federal Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) wedge and rollover funds.

The funding was announced by Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman.

“Canada’s New Government is proud to increase its investment in agricultural research to ensure farmers can take advantage of future economic opportunities,” said Minister Strahl.  “Saskatchewan and, in fact, all of Canada, will benefit from this enhanced investment into research and innovation in areas such as food and bioproducts, biofuels, beef and swine production, and the development of high value feed products.”

“This funding is part of the commitment of both Canada and Saskatchewan to science and innovation,” Wartman said.  “Saskatchewan has a very large agricultural capacity, and requires an equally large research capacity to maximize its potential.  Additional resources in crop and animal genetics, biofuel research, and the development of new high value feed products are a few examples where enhanced research and development efforts will create dividends in a stronger and more competitive agricultural industry.”

The $41.5 million in federal APF funds, announced today, will be used to contribute to the province’s science and innovation program expenditures under APF for the period of 2003-08.

As a result of this agreement with Canada’s New Government, Saskatchewan has made significant investment to enhance research programs or expand facilities at a number of agriculture research institutions in Saskatchewan.

Science and Innovation is a chapter under the Canada-Saskatchewan Agricultural Policy Framework.  For more information about Science and Innovation programs and services, please visit www.agr.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
Phone: 613-759-7972 or 1-866-345-7972

Jeff Howard
Press Secretary
Ottawa
Phone: 613-759-1059

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