Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

GRDI launches two new genomics projects

The federal Genomics Research and Development Initiative (GRDI) has announced $4 million for two new projects as part of a multi-departmental initiative to position themselves as key national and international players in the genomics field. The Antimicrobial Resistance project will explore how to make food production safer by reducing bacterial and microbial resistance. The EcoBiomics…

Farmer funding supports wheat and barley research

The Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) has renewed its research support for wheat and barley variety development with $21 million over five years — the largest industry investment in research conducted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The funding will underpin AAFC’s scientific capacity in plant pathology and physiology, entomology and grain quality as well as…

AAFC injects $15 million into pulse crop research

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is investing an additional $15 million in a collaborative initiative to further develop the Canadian pulse industry (peas, beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc). The funding will enhance existing research agreements in the three prairie provinces, including a $21-million, 15-year R&D agreement between the federal government and various Saskatchewan crop and research entities…

AAFC injects $15 million into pulse crop research

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is investing an additional $15 million in a collaborative initiative to further develop the Canadian pulse industry (peas, beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc). The funding will enhance existing research agreements in the three prairie provinces, including a $21-million, 15-year R&D agreement between the federal government and various Saskatchewan crop and research entities…

AAFC closing Winnipeg Cereal Research Centre

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is closing its Cereal Research Centre in Winnipeg — one of 19 research centres it maintains across the country. Established in 1925 as the Dominion Rust Research Laboratory, the Centre was considered well past its prime and the department lacked the funds to rebuild or replace the structure. Much of the…

Bioniche opens animal vaccine production facility

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc has opened Canada’s largest livestock vaccine manufacturing facility using $25 million in repayable loans from the federal and Ontario government’s The Animal Health and Food Safety Vaccine Manufacturing Centre, located at the firm’s headquarters in Belleville ON, is a scale-up facility and the first milestone in a planned $100-million project (R$,…

Feds contribute $11 million to wheat and barley research

The federal government is investing $11 million to assist in the development of new wheat and barley varieties. The Canadian Agri-Clusters Initiative (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada-AAFC) will invest $8 million to establish the Canadian Wheat Breeding Cluster along with funding from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF). The cluster will bring together research expertise to…

Project launched to produce algae-based biofuel

The National Research Council (NRC) has launched a major initiative to commercialize the mass production of biofuel from algae. The Halifax-based project was launched under the National Bioproducts Program (NBP), a joint initiative of the NRC, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Natural Resources Canada. NRC will contribute $5 million to the project through the NBP…

AG cites AAFC for delays in implementing S&T strategy

The latest report of the Office of the Auditor General (AG) has blasted Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for dragging its feet on implementing its 2006 science and innovation strategy. The AG found that AAFC’s research branch’s action plan was woefully incomplete, with no information on human resources, equipment and facilities and financial requirements for…

AAFC provides $6 million for beef R&D projects

The beef industry will receive $6 million from Agri-Innovations, a $158-million program announced May/09. Managed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the program will support R&D into reducing production costs, increasing feed efficiency and improving animal health. The R&D program is being launched in conjunction with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association which is providing $1.2 million.…