Photo from Devin Dreeshen on Twitter (@DevinDVote)

By Troy Gillard

$3.7-million grant

Expanding agriculture research at the University of Alberta

Oct 20, 2020 | 9:27 AM

EDMONTON – Alberta’s Agriculture and Forestry department says it has reached an agreement to transfer key research programs to the University of Alberta, strengthening its agriculture research capacity.

The University of Alberta will receive a $3.7-million grant to assist in the transition of critical agriculture research programs and researchers.

These researchers and programs now reside with the University of Alberta:

• John Basarab, beef genomics and feed efficiency

• Dr. Marcos Colazo, reproductive management in beef and dairy cattle

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• Valerie Carney, Poultry Innovation Project lead

• Sheri Strydhorst, cereal agronomy

Alberta farmers and ranchers will continue to benefit from world-leading research that will now be housed at the University of Alberta. These researchers and programs, previously with Agriculture and Forestry, will continue to benefit the province’s farmers and livestock producers under the current agreement.

“The U of A has a strong agriculture program, and adding these great researchers to their programming will benefit Alberta’s farmers and ranchers for years to come. Research is critical to agriculture’s success, and by leveraging and increasing capacity it will result in huge benefits for Alberta’s agriculture sector,” said Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen.

“Alberta farmers and ranchers not only feed our communities, they are key drivers of economic growth across our province. At the University of Alberta, we are proud to work alongside them, undertaking world-leading research both in the lab, on the farm, and in the field,” said Bill Flanagan, president and vice-chancellor, University of Alberta.

This agreement is part of the Alberta government’s commitment to ensuring farmers and ranchers lead agriculture research priorities – not government. The province says that establishing Results Driven Agriculture Research, an arm’s-length non-profit corporation, is a first step in making sure research funding priorities are producer-led. Over the long-term, the provincial government says RDAR will assume ongoing responsibility for the funding agreement with the University of Alberta.

Under this new model, agricultural research in Alberta will lead to tangible benefits for farmers, including higher profits, a more abundant food supply at lower cost for Albertans and ultimately a higher quality of life in rural communities.

Established in March, Results Driven Agriculture Research and the Government of Alberta recently reached a $37-million annual funding agreement. RDAR determines and funds industry-wide research priorities to enhance producers’ competitive advantage.

(With file from media release)