Canadian Government Invests in Atlantic Grains and Oilseeds

Canada’s Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz, and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Gail Shea, announced an investment on behalf of the Canadian government of $792,064 to the Atlantic Grains Council (AGC) for the improvement of the quality and output of grains and oilseeds in the country’s three Maritime provinces.

The funds are being issued under the five year, $698 million, Growing Forward 2 AgriInnovation Program established to accelerate R&D activities and innovations in the country’s agri-food and agriculture industries.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will provide scientific expertise and funds to finance field trials to be conducted with the goal of improving corn and soybean crops through the most effective application of fungicides, and the identification of meteorological and agronomic conditions that negatively affect yields. This will be the AGC’s first large-scale project to which it will contribute producer contributions from a new checkoff fund.

"The grains and oilseeds sector is an important driver of the economy here in Atlantic Canada and across the country, says Canadian Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz. “This investment will boost producers' bottom lines as well as contribute to the long-term sustainability of the sector in the Atlantic region."