Flax Research Making Progress

Canada is a world leader when it comes to flax research.

Genome Canada and other industry partners have invested nearly $12 million to fund the work of a national research team. The goal is to boost flax yields and oil content . . . as well as improving the fibre (straw) quality.

The four year project is being led by Dr. Gordon Rowland with the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Center.

"We will be looking for genes that can be associated with helping to improve yield of the crop," says Rowland.

It is a signficant amount of money for flax research, but still small when compared to the vast amount of funds directed towards improving canola.