As many as 24 projects will receive financial support
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
The federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Manitoba are working together by providing as many as 24 research projects in Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-food sector with financial support.
Growing Innovation – Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative (GI-ARDI) is providing the funding for the projects, which are set to share an investment of more than $2 million.
"Research and development continue to be key to driving innovation in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry,” said Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in a release. “Investments in new research such as these will help create further economic opportunities for our producers and processors.”
The projects are designed to cover a wide variety of agricultural issues including the health of humans, animals, farm technology and:
- Effects of late planting on early-maturing soybeans
- Management strategies to control Colorado potato beetles, which are insecticide-resistant
- Fusarium head blight resistance in barley
- Long-term market effects of feeding and vaccination strategies for beef cattle
- Consumption of hemp and human health trials
- Genetic markers for flavour selection in pork
The variety of projects could lead Manitoba agriculture into a bright future.
"By strategically investing in research and development, we can encourage new opportunities and a more diverse economy in rural areas,” said Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn. “Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-food sector will certainly benefit from the findings of these projects. Adopting the new ideas generated from this work will lead to further economic growth in the province."
Through Growing Forward 2, Manitoba is scheduled to receive $176 million in investments from the federal and provincial governments.