Reading Time: 3 minutes The shop is in a building built seven decades ago and shows its age. It’s a hike from there to the rented office space in the local municipal district building, which is full at the best of times and overflowing when farmers or summer students show up. Most importantly, worn-out facilities and rented land are […] Read more
New digs offer a big boost to ag research in Peace Country
Sarda has had to make do for years, but a new $1-million facility will change that
Young Alberta researcher aims to feed the world through protein-boosted crops
The world needs a lot more protein and gene editing could be the solution, says Logan Skori
Reading Time: 3 minutes A young Alberta plant scientist is using gene editing to develop high-protein crops with an eye on feeding underdeveloped countries and meeting food industry demand for plant-based protein. Logan Skori grew up on an 1,800-acre mixed farming operation near Kinsella. His favourite childhood memory, which inspired his academic career, is riding in a combine with […] Read more
They don’t wear lab coats but more farmers doing on-farm research
Getting scientifically valid data takes time and work -- and often at the busiest times of the year
Reading Time: 4 minutes With all the decisions that must be made in a growing season, on-farm research trials are a way for farmers to increase the odds of making the right call on major changes. “When you do something yourself on your own farm, you can be pretty certain it will work in your conditions,” said Lewis Baarda, […] Read more
Squeezed and struggling: Research groups desperate for funding
Farmer-led groups say producers rely on their work but they’re hamstrung by inadequate, short-term funding
Reading Time: 6 minutes Alberta farmers need local, practical research but applied research associations say they’ve been hamstrung by a lack of provincial funding — and some may have to pack it in if that doesn’t change soon. “A lot of the groups are kind of squeezed to the point where, if we don’t get something secured right now, […] Read more
Canada lays out $9.1 billion roadmap to meet 2030 climate targets
About $1 billion earmarked for new or expanded ag programs
Reuters — Canada released its first real roadmap to meeting 2030 climate targets on Tuesday, laying out detailed plans and $9.1 billion in new spending to cut planet-warming carbon emissions after years failing to meet its goals. The Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) is the first time Canada has had a comprehensive plan, rather than just […] Read more
Prospects for ag research in Alberta still up in the air
New research agency is finding its feet but uncertainty abounds
Reading Time: 5 minutes Alberta’s new research funding body has made some progress over the last six months — but it’s still very much a work in progress. “It’s been a pretty hectic time for them with lots of growing pains, and there’s still lots of room for improvement, but we are getting support and hoping for improvements over […] Read more
RDAR hires chief executive
Reading Time: < 1 minute Mark Redmond is the new CEO of Results Driven Agriculture Research, the new body funding ag research in the province. He was most recently the director of incubation service at PEI BioAlliance and was previously associate dean at NAIT’s School of Health (from 2016-18) and an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta (2011-17) and […] Read more
Opinion: Are the changes to ag research really being led by farmers?
The changes being made will have a major impact, but the issue isn’t attracting much attention
Reading Time: 3 minutes In February of 2016, I experienced something I will never forget. I witnessed farmers and ranchers unite across the province in passionate protest against the newly introduced Bill 6, the occupational health and safety legislation. We saw France-style farmer protests including tractor demonstrations and big crowds of angry folks. It reminded me of images I’ve […] Read more
Farm groups ‘disappointed’ by research cuts
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley say they are “disappointed at the level of research that will be conducted this year” by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The two farm groups say Ag Canada management has suggested field trials will only be about 30 per cent of capacity this year because of constraints created by the pandemic, […] Read more
Pandemic threatens federal field research this year
But crop commissions urge AgCanada to follow example of universities, private researchers
Reading Time: 2 minutes COVID-19 threatens to sideline Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s field, greenhouse and lab research this year, but Prairie wheat and barley commissions that help to fund it want as many projects as possible to go ahead. In a statement issued April 24, AgCanada seemed to all but rule out field work this spring. “In response to […] Read more
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