The Saskatchewan government plans to put up an extra $5 million over four years through its Agriculture Development Fund for research in the province’s ag biotechnology sector.
“Research is a priority for our government and this increased funding will help provide real, tangible benefits for our producers at the farm gate,” Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said in a release Monday.
The ADF is meant to help institutions, companies and industry groups carry out research, development and value-added activities of benefit to Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers.
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The ADF, backed by the federal/provincial Growing Forward ag policy funding framework, can cover up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs. The fund accepts letters of intent from eligible agencies and organizations until April 15 for each fiscal year.
Among the fund’s stated goals are the development of new foods, bioproducts, bioprocessing technologies, “crop varieties meeting market demand and consumer preferences” and “proprietary technology and know-how in novel applications.”
Premier Brad Wall pledged the added funding Monday during the Agriculture Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC 2010) in Saskatoon.
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Greg Marshall, a rancher at Semans, Sask., noted in the province’s release that APAS has been “advocating for both levels of government to increase funding for agriculture research” and was thus “very encouraged” by the announced increase.
The province added Monday that its 2010-11 budget earmarked almost $17 million for ag research and a further $5 million for Innovation Saskatchewan, the agency set up last year to co-ordinate government support for research, development and commercialization work.
