The Government of Canada has announced more than $4.2 million in new funding to strengthen Saskatchewan’s role as a leader in agricultural production and innovation. The investment, delivered through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), was unveiled by the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski during a visit to the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan.
The funding supports several initiatives, including:
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$1.6 million for GIFS to expand its genomic selection-based accelerated breeding program, designed to bring higher-yielding and higher-quality crops and livestock to market faster.
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$2.1 million for Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. to install automation equipment for new grain bin manufacturing in Watson, Saskatchewan.
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$420,000 for the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre to increase co-packing capabilities and incubation space.
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$20,000 for Ag-West Bio Inc. to host the Agri-Value Forum in 2025 and 2026, promoting value-added agriculture.
GIFS CEO Dr. Steven Webb said the investment strengthens their model, which integrates advanced genotyping, engineering biology, and data analytics. The initiative builds on earlier support, including $2.5 million in 2022 for Canada’s only agricultural biomanufacturing facility.
University of Saskatchewan Vice-President of Research Dr. Baljit Singh noted the accelerated breeding program will help address global food security challenges while boosting Canada’s agri-food sector.
According to PrairiesCan, the projects are expected to create more than 30 new jobs, generate $7 million in export revenue, and drive $51 million in commercialization growth.
For more information about the FCC Accelerated Breeding Program at GIFS, visit gifs.ca/programs/accelerated-breeding.
