The federal government has announced $35.3 million for infrastructure upgrades at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s research and development centre in Swift Current.
The centre is being renovated and new laboratories are being built. The labs are used extensively to support the department’s wheat breeding program and other research on forages and cereals.
Researchers at the centre play a key role in developing wheat varieties, which are grown on about 50 per cent of wheat fields in Canada.
“The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of research and innovation to agriculture and to our economy,” federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay said in a news release.
“Improvements to these facilities will help AAFC deliver new technologies to producers, which creates growth, supports Canadian farmers and makes our sector more competitive.”
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall welcomed the federal funding announcement.
“Our government has made research a priority as part of our innovation agenda, and such investments in our agriculture research sector will help Saskatchewan and Canada continue not only to feed the world, but continue to be a world leader in agriculture research,” Wall said in the release.
The funding is part of AAFC’s rolling five-year investment plan, which identifies infrastructure priorities and necessary improvements to facilities.
