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Saskatchewan and private industry invest in wheat research

May 30, 2013, Regina, SK - The Saskatchewan government is investing $5 million in wheat research funding over five years. This investment, along with the recently-announced Canadian Wheat Alliance, is part of a $10 million commitment made by Premier Brad Wall at the Saskatchewan Agriculture Wheat Summit in February 2012.

This funding will be matched by private sector companies to target projects aimed at accelerating the development of wheat varieties as well as improving yields and competitiveness of the wheat industry.

These projects are co-funded with a $2.7 million investment by the province, together with a $2.7 million private sector investment by Dow AgroSciences ($1,250,000), Bayer CropScience ($800,000) and Secan ($665,000).

The three projects receiving funding will target:

• Enhancement of wheat breeding capacity;
• Development of wheat varieties for added quality and performance; and
• Integration of fungicide strategies and genetic resistance to control stripe rust in wheat.

Another $2.3 million in funding is available for future research projects, with a call for proposals coming in the fall.

May 30, 2013  By Government of Saskatchewan