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Investment establishes Prairie Crop and Soils Research Facility in Manitoba

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing up to $6.4 million to establish the Prairie Crops and Soils Research Facility (PCSRF) at the Fort Garry campus of the University of Manitoba (UM).

“A great deal of our agriculture industry’s success comes from research and skill development. This investment not only creates local, collaborative opportunities in the short-term, it also lays the foundation for a growing research community that will create more agricultural innovations in the future,” says federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.

Manitoba Advanced Education and Training is providing funding of up to $5.9 million in capital investment over three years, and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is providing up to $500,000 to create a new state-of-the-art 20,000-sq.-ft. facility to find solutions to critical questions about our food supply.

“This facility promotes industry-government-academia collaboration that positions Manitoba as a national leader in agricultural research, innovation and education,” says Manitoba Advanced Education and Training Minister Sarah Guillemard. “The PCSRF will provide incredible training and research opportunities for students in the agricultural field, helping them gain valuable experience in a sector that is continuously advancing.”

The total budget for the PCSRF is $20.7 million, including investments from agricultural industry organizations. The new facility is set to be operational by June 2026.

“Manitoba has always offered world-class research, innovation and training that benefits crop producers and grain markets, and today we are making sure we continue to attract top researchers and students,” says Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson. “This investment ensures that we enhance the resiliency and sustainability of Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-processing sectors for years to come.”

The PCSRF will meet the emerging needs of our food system that Canadian farmers and the industry can innovate in a wide range of areas including nutrient management, cropping systems, digital agronomy and breeding. This initiative was developed through a multi-year consultation with agronomists, entomologists, pathologists, plant breeders, geneticists, soil scientists and other stakeholders in the industry.

“This is a significant investment that will greatly enhance our capacity for research, education programs, and collaborations with producers for more sustainable crop production,” says Martin Scanlon, dean, faculty of agricultural and food sciences, UM. “The PCSRF sets the stage for our researchers to develop an integrated approach to robust agronomic systems that will benefit Western Canadian producers and consumers across Canada for years to come. At the same time this will allow our students to become the next generation of agri-food leaders.”

The current facility at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba is nearing the end of its lifespan, and this new facility will expand and modernize agronomic research and training. The PCSRF will improve the quantity, quality, and efficiency of seed, soil, and plant sample processing, analysis and archiving, and will integrate of soil, crop, entomology, livestock, and engineering research for creative sustainable crop production solutions.