Alberta Canola funds research that investigates the best ways to grow canola, finds solutions for pest management, and increases the demand for canola in Alberta. The research we support must be innovative and provide long-term value to canola farmers in Alberta.
For the past three years, Alberta Canola has been hosting Research Symposiums around the province, held in conjunction with the Alberta Canola Conference in January, to share information and seek feedback on the priorities most important to farmers.
Research Symposiums have been held in Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge, and they all featured an interactive activity where attendees ‘invested’ funds in areas that they thought to be the most important for research funding.
The results from the Research Symposium activities have helped evolve research priorities, supporting decisions on research investment. When Alberta Canola reviews research letters of intent and full proposals each year, we consider which projects will provide the most value to growers and which subject areas consistently rank high (or low) in our research priorities.
We have received questions about making research investments in genetic development, applied research, on-farm research, and demonstrations. Should we start funding research in new areas? Should we increase or limit funding to others? Before we make major adjustments, we want a clear mandate from our growers.
This year, we have made a strategic decision to move away from the Alberta Canola Conference and Research Symposium. Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been moved to the CrossRoads Crop Conference in January, alongside the AGMs for Alberta Grains and Alberta Pulse Growers. This move aims to create efficiencies and cost-effective partnerships to deliver more accessible and streamlined use of our growers’ time.
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