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By rdnewsNOW Staff

$2.4 MILLION INVESTMENT

RDAR announces genomic investments to benefit Alberta producers

Oct 6, 2023 | 5:04 PM

RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research) has announced the investment of $2.4M in three Accelerating Agriculture Innovation projects which target Climate SMART Agriculture and Food Systems initiatives.

Officials say RDAR is proud to invest in these genomic projects, together with regional partners. RDAR’s investment is leveraged with funds from Genome Canada and partners for a total investment of $19.7 million.

Officials add, this is the first investment from the new Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (Sustainable CAP) 2023 – 2028, funded jointly by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. These funds aim to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of the agriculture and agri-food sector in Canada, officials further point out.

“I recently had the opportunity to meet with producers in Alberta who have adopted rotational grazing practices and saw the benefits delivered by our climate initiatives,” says the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “The projects announced today will accelerate our understanding of how combined genomics and grazing management practices can influence soil and livestock genomes, driving rangeland ecosystems for carbon sequestration and lower GHG emissions.”

Officials say genomic technology is the path forward for Alberta producers. Genomics development is said to accelerate the understanding of and directs the use of molecular biology tools to help producers reduce environmental impacts, increase resilience, and improve disease prevention in livestock and crops.

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“I look forward to seeing the positive impact these new projects will have on our province’s agriculture industry,” says RJ Sigurdson, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. “The enhanced understanding of genomics gained from this research will help Alberta farmers and ranchers strengthen their sustainable practices and benefit from economic growth.”

These genomic investments by the federal and provincial governments, Genome Canada and partners, is expected to help to ensure that Alberta’s producers have the tangible research outcomes they require to make informed decisions that improve the productivity, profitability, and competitiveness of their farming operation.

“RDAR is committed to advancing agriculture through genomics, and we foresee the projects announced today accelerating the adaptation of crops to climate change and the drive to sustainable livestock production,” says Mark Redmond, RDAR CEO. “This work is essential as Alberta agriculture responds to climate change, builds a more resilient industry, serves new, environmentally conscious high-value markets, and returns greater profits to producers.”

“Cattle play an important role in sustainable food systems,” says Melissa Downing, cattle farmer and RDAR Board Vice Chair. “The benefits of responsible grazing practices are becoming increasingly apparent. Validating those benefits through research will help beef producers achieve both ecological sustainability and economic viability.”

Officials say strategic investment in these projects aim to advance Alberta’s agriculture industry by accelerating the farm gate adaptation of genomic technology. Outcomes from these genomic research projects are also expected to help producers from across the province access and adopt new solutions for improving grazing management, soil carbon sequestration, and climate resiliency.

“Exploring the use of new lentil genomics, combined with different rotations to increase yields and decreased fertilizer usage is good for the environment and producers’ economic sustainability,” says D’Arcy Hilgartner, Pulse Crop Producer, Past Chair of Alberta Pulse Growers, and RDAR Board Director. “Pulses in a crop rotation provide multiple benefits to Alberta farmers. They provide a break in disease cycles, different marketing options, and have a low carbon footprint. Exploring the use of new lentil genomics, combined with different rotations to increase yields and decreased fertilizer usage is good for the environment and producers’ economic sustainability.”

About the Projects:

This work will build on RDAR’s previous investments in pea crop development and the province-wide campaign to adopt rotational grazing practices.