A “national effort” is needed to support crop science research with climate change in mind, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall urged Wednesday.
“Our growing season is now three weeks longer than it was in the 1960s, temperatures are warmer, and we need to invest in crop science,” Wall said from Vancouver in a provincial news release during the Council of the Federation’s adaptation forum on climate change.
“Saskatchewan has historically led in crop science research, and with national support we need again to lead in this area in the future.”
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Wall made the comments as part of an announcement that Saskatchewan will co-operate with Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta on a western Canadian water resource and conservation plan, also with climate change adaptation in mind.
Wall also reiterated Saskatchewan’s willingness to lead on biofuels infrastructure, mentioning work toward the development of an “E-85 highway” to increase Canadians’ access to fuels with higher ethanol content.
The province has also endorsed calls for a national strategy on climate change adaptation for the forestry industry, including managing research on the spread of the mountain pine beetle, Wall noted.
