REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA — Saskatchewan will receive C$12 million in funding for 44 crop-related research projects through its Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) and the Strategic Research Institute (SRI).

The SRI is a new program starting this year with the goal of providing targeted funding to advance strategic priorities within the industry.  Projects are expected to go beyond the scope and scale of work normally undertaken in ADF, pursuing innovative research that will address complex challenges facing the industry.

“By investing in crop-related research, we’re investing in the future of Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry,” said David Marit, Saskatchewan minister of agriculture. “The projects we’re investing in today consist of a variety of fields of study, including herbicide resistance, pest control, crop breeding and much more. Not only do these projects enhance our industry by creating more opportunities for producers and agribusinesses, they cement our province as a leader in agriculture research.”

ADF support is awarded on a competitive basis to researchers looking to examine areas of importance to Saskatchewan producers. A few of the project topics include: developing a weed control system for herbicide resistant wild oat in wheat, enhancing the extraction of vitamins from canola crush co-product, establishing resistance to fusarium head blight in wheat, improving protein and seed quality in peas and determining the ideal seeding date for quinoa.

In addition to funding provided by the federal and provincial governments, projects supported through the ADF are receiving C$3.6 million in funding from the following partners: The Western Grains Research Foundation, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, the Prairie Oat Growers Association, the Alberta Wheat Commission and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association.