The University of Manitoba will receive more than $670,000 to purchase specialized equipment for agricultural research. This announcement was made by Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn.
“Investing in agricultural research stimulates economic growth by creating jobs along the entire value chain,” said Minister Ritz. “Our government is proud to support new research and technologies that will help farmers grow their business and increase their productivity and profitability.”
Funding is provided through Growing Forward 2, focusing on research areas that are important to crop and livestock producers including soil quality, nutrient management, land productivity and animal care.
“Support for the research done by the University of Manitoba will help Manitoba maintain its role as one of the leading agricultural research centres in the world,” said Minister Kostyshyn. “With this new equipment, our students, researchers and faculty will play a major role in supporting an industry that provides important jobs that are the backbone of our rural economy.”
The projects funded at the university’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences include:
- $220,000 for equipment to research soil particles and nutrients in water running off agricultural land;
- $62,000 to purchase GPS collars, software and a portable cattle handling facility to monitor animal grazing activity, which will be used to research the most economically and environmentally sustainable ways for producers to manage their pastures;
- more than $229,000 for equipment to measure yields and harvest forage crops in research plots located across the province; and
- $159,000 for a research team to evaluate nutritional needs, egg quality, environmental factors and other management practices related to the poultry sector’s transition to more spacious housing for birds.
“Manitoba’s capacity for innovation in agriculture is critical if we are to maintain a sustainable and competitive agri-food industry,” said Dr. Karin Wittenberg, acting dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba. “We truly appreciate the provincial and federal governments’ support in developing that capacity.”
Since 1906, the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences has been a leader in the agri-food industry in Manitoba. It offers diploma, bachelor and graduate programs focused on agricultural management, agribusiness, the environment and food and nutritional sciences. For more information, visit www.umanitoba.ca.
The federal and provincial governments are investing $176 million in Manitoba under Growing Forward 2, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial policy framework to advance the agriculture industry, helping producers and processors become more innovative and competitive in world markets.
