GUELPH,
ON, May 13, 2024 /CNW/ - Research activities
are at the heart of innovation and progress, especially in
agriculture, and can lead to long-term growth and success for the
sector.
Today, Lloyd Longfield, Member of
Parliament for Guelph, on behalf
of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-Food, announced up to $5,733,852
to the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) through the
AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, to promote more
diverse crop rotations on farms.
The Cropping Systems Cluster, led by CFCRA, will develop the
characteristics and practices to encourage diverse crop rotations
for soybean, corn and oat. The research aims to reduce business
risk for farmers by developing crops that are resilient to climate
change and weather stresses, protect against losses caused by
diseases and insects, and are profitable for producers overall.
This will be achieved by developing oat varieties with improved
traits for Eastern and Western
Canada, as well as improving soybean varieties for
short-season production environments in Canada.
Research activities will also explore how diverse crop rotations
can play a central role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
how better genetics, land management, and fertilizer use can
improve nitrogen use efficiency to protect the environment.
Quotes
"With climate change having a direct impact on producers, crop
diversity is vitally important to keeping our agriculture sector
healthy, productive, and competitive. This funding will help
researchers explore the benefits of crop rotations and encourage
producers to integrate soybean, corn and oat crops into their
farms."
- The Honourable Lawrence
MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"Research and innovation to improve crop rotations on farms is
important to ensure producers can grow the most efficient and
sustainable soybean, corn, and oat crops. With this funding to the
Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance, scientists will be focusing
on issues important to farmers here in Guelph and systems that
can benefit farmers across Canada."
- Lloyd
Longfield, Member of Parliament, Guelph
"The Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance applauds the
Government of Canada's investment
in vital agricultural and food industry research. The Cropping
Systems Cluster will target soybean, corn and oat, emphasizing
disease resistance enhancement, crop variety improvement, and
integration of cover crops. The research outcomes will support
diverse crop rotations that can reduce GHG emissions, improve
environmental resiliency and grow the economic stability of the
Canadian grain sector."
- Wade
Hainstock, President, Canadian Field Crop Research
Alliance
Quick Facts
- Soybeans contribute $4.6 billion
to the Canadian economy and are the fourth most valuable crop due
to their high prices.
- Canadian corn production has risen incrementally since 2010,
increasing export revenue to a record of $941 million in 2021-22.
- In 2021-22, Canadian oat exports were valued at $558 million, with 93 percent of exports going to
the United States.
- Crop rotation is the practice of planting crops with diverse
characteristics in sequence on the same field over time. It
improves the ability of producers to manage the soil in a manner
that optimizes soil health and nutrient use, prevents soil erosion,
reduces pest infestations, and increases yields.
- The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable Canadian
Agricultural Partnership, aims to accelerate innovation by
providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities
and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector,
and Canadians.
- The Clusters Component, under the AgriScience Program, supports
projects intended to mobilize industry, government, and academia
through partnerships and address priority national themes and
horizontal issues.
- The Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) is a
not-for-profit entity founded in 2010 with an interest in advancing
the genetic capacity of field crops in Canada, particularly barley, corn, oat,
soybean, and wheat.
Additional Links
- AgriScience Program – Clusters
- Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance
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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada