Agriculture development fund seeking letters of intent

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) is currently seeking letters of intent from those interested in obtaining research funding under the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).

The projects for this year may be just a twinkle in the eye of a researcher – but if past results are any indication, the research supported by the ADF will have a profound impact on the Saskatchewan agricultural industry.

“The Agriculture Development Fund provides project funding for researchers to address issues of importance to the agriculture industry,” said SAF Manager of Research and Development Bill Greuel.

“The ADF has tried over the past 20 years to add value to agriculture. We do that by providing funding to researchers who are looking at everything from variety development or animal genetics to value-added processing and new bio-products.”

Greuel says the fund supports a broad spectrum of projects.

“We try to target research that goes from variety development, at the very root of agricultural innovation in the province, through to the development of innovative new products and processes that can develop new products, make advancements in bio-energy, and create new ways to add value to agriculture,” he said.

Many initiatives have been funded over the years, but the driving force has always been improving the bottom line for the agricultural industry.

“We look at what can increase returns to a producer. That might be through decreased production risks, new methods of crop production, or better varieties. We look at higher value for processors. That might involve new products developed from agricultural commodities. We also look at the benefits to consumers of the agricultural commodities we produce here in Saskatchewan,” Greuel stated.

“So we are trying to increase the value of the agricultural industry at all levels, from producers to processors to consumers.”

That impact can be quantified. Greuel noted that a number of studies have looked at the economic return of agricultural research. A recent report focusing on funding for variety development found that every dollar invested in the area returned $3.43 in value back to the industry.

The ADF is open to both public and private research firms. “We fund work at the U of S, the U of R, Agriculture and Agri-FoodCanada, the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, the Prairie Swine Centre, and private companies,” Greuel said. “We’ve got research going on with just about anybody who can add value to the industry.”

The fund will consider proposals related to any aspect of agricultural production, but specific emphasis is being placed on research which will lead to:

* improved food quality and safety;
* new and innovative food and other bioproducts and bioprocessing technologies;
* optimized livestock feeding systems;
* increased competitiveness in livestock production;
* decreased agricultural production risks;
* new crop varieties to meet market demand and consumer preferences; and
* integrated and comprehensive farming systems and practices that enhance or maintain the agro-ecosystem’s capacity and the integrity of the provincial land and soil resource.

ADF letters of intent will be accepted until April 15. Successful applicants will then be asked to submit a full proposal before September 1.

Letter of intent forms are available online at www.arb.gov.sk.ca, or through the links on the SAF website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca.

Applicants are asked to follow the online instructions. If problems or questions arise, please call (306) 787-5929, or e-mail ARBonline@agr.gov.sk.ca.

For more information, contact:
Bill Greuel, Manager of Research and Development
Phone: (306) 787-9768
E-mail: wgreuel@agr.gov.sk.ca