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Canadian Cereals Sector Drives Economic Growth and Employment in Canada

The Canadian cereal grains value chain plays a critical role in Canada's economy by creating jobs, supporting families, and driving economic growth. According to a recent report commissioned by Cereals Canada, Canadian-grown wheat, barley, durum, and oats had an estimated total economic impact of $68.8 billion, including more than 370,000 Canadian jobs, and $27 billion in wages. 

The report entitled "The Economic Impact of Wheat, Durum, Barley, and Oats on the Canadian Economy: 2022" highlights the significant contribution from these four crops. Cereals Canada engaged LMC International, an independent economic consulting firm focused on the agriculture and agribusiness sector, for the study.

"The cereals value chain is a major contributor to Canada's success," said Dean Dias, chief executive officer at Cereals Canada. "The report reinforces the vital role that the Canadian cereals industry plays in Canada's economy."  

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Designing a Robotic Berry Picker

Video: Designing a Robotic Berry Picker


Since blackberries must be harvested by hand, the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To support a growing blackberry industry in Arkansas, food science associate professor Renee Threlfall is collaborating with mechanical engineering assistant professor Anthony Gunderman to develop a mechanical harvesting system. Most recently, the team designed a device to measure the force needed to pick a blackberry without damaging it. The data from this device will help inform the next stage of development and move the team closer to the goal of a fully autonomous robotic berry picker. The device was developed by Gunderman, with Yue Chen, a former U of A professor now at Georgia Tech, and Jeremy Collins, then a U of A undergraduate engineering student. To determine the force needed to pick blackberries without damage, the engineers worked with Threlfall and Andrea Myers, then a graduate student.