More than $2.3 Million Earmarked for Soybean Research

The federal government on Wednesday announced more than $2.3 million in funding to help develop more climate change-resistant soybeans. 

The money – which will be spread over four years – will go to Performance Plants Inc. (PPI) to create soybean varieties that are more heat and drought tolerant, as well as herbicide resistant, use water efficiently, and sequester carbon into the soil, said a federal release. 

“This funding is vitally important to helping our hardworking farmers tackle extreme weather and keep growing the top-quality crops Canada is known for,” federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay said. 

Kingston, ON-based Performance Plants Inc. is an agricultural biotechnology company incorporated in 1995. The company has developed key technologies to achieve higher and more consistent crop yields through improved heat tolerance, drought tolerance and reduced water requirements. 

Soybeans are one of the largest field crops in Canada, generating $14 billion in annual economic output.  

The federal funding is being contributed through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.