Research to develop new chemical desiccants for dry bean crops will get an infusion of $772,000 in federal funding.
Ontario MPs Bev Shipley and Benn Lobb on Monday announced Pulse Canada’s project as the first to be funded under the Developing Innovative Agri-Products program, part of the Agri-Innovations arm of the federal/provincial Growing Forward ag policy framework.
New restrictions for herbicide residues mean fewer products available for desiccation of dry bean crios in Canada, the government said. The funding is expected to allow researchers to evaluate what’s currently available and to develop new “environmentally and economically sustainable harvest-aid programs” for dry beans.
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“This project funding will allow research to occur across Canada in all of the major bean growing areas,” Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada, said in the government’s release. Pulse Canada, based in Winnipeg, is the industry association for pulse growers, processors and traders.
“Not only will (the project) ensure that farmers have crop protection products that work effectively, it will help us ensure that we will continue to supply bean customers around the world with high-quality products.”
Canadian producers grow almost 10 per cent of the world’s dry bean exports, valued at $136 million annually, making Canada the fourth largest exporter of dry beans worldwide, the government said.
The federal government in November pledged over $4.4 million toward other projects administered by Pulse Canada, including:
- a marketing initiative promoting pulses’ environmental friendliness (up to $1.5 million);
- an initiative to build the share for pulses in markets for healthy and sustainable food (also up to $1.5 million);
- a program to line up access to better handling equipment and transportation systems for the pulse industry (up to $1.13 million); and
- another $308,250 from the AgriMarketing program to promote pulses in health- and environment-conscious markets.
