David Chalack has been re-elected to the board of RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research) and will continue as chair.
Bentley producer Jason Lenz was also re-elected earlier this month to a three-year term. New to the board is Josie Van Lent, dean of agriculture technology and applied research at Lakeland College.
Directors are elected by the 31 members of the research funding organization, which include ag marketing boards, farm commissions and non-profits representing agricultural producers in Alberta.
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RDAR was created by the province to give farmers more of a say in how research grants are handed out, with the goal of funding work that produces “real, measurable results.”
In its first full fiscal year (ending March 31, 2022), the organization gave out about $46 million in grants. It receives funding from both the province and the federal government.
Other producers on the board are Brian Brewin (Taber), JP Brouwer (Ponoka), D’Arcy Hilgartner (Camrose), Steve Kenyon (Busby), Fred Lozeman (Claresholm), and Melissa Downing (Metiskow), who is also vice-chair. Stanford Blade, dean of the University of Alberta’s ag department, is also on the board. Departing the board is John Kolk.
