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By rdnewsNOW staff

Modernize and build facilities

Province allocates $9 million to local seed co-operatives

Apr 2, 2026 | 9:56 AM

The provincial government announced they’re investing $9 million over the next three years for capital projects at local seed co-operatives to help address aging infrastructure.

If passed, the funds would come from the 2026 budget and be allocated to the Co-operative Seed Processors program to help co-operative and municipal plants modernize and build facilities, upgrade equipment, and improve operations.

Local seed co-operatives operate to ensure weeds are not spread through seed.

“Farmer-owned local seed co-operatives play an integral role in ensuring seeds and crops are pest- and disease-free, they strengthen local communities and help ensure we are successful in global markets,” said RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. “Now more than ever, seed co-operatives need support to modernize aging facilities so they can remain economically viable and serve our growing agriculture industry.”

The program is funded 75 per cent by the seed co-operatives and 25 per cent by the government. The result is a total $27-million investment over three years.

Most seed co-operatives were built between the 1960s and 1990s. Upgrading technology and equipment will ensure co-operatives remain viable and competitive.

As a result of this investment, seed co-operatives will be able to continue serving producers, providing good jobs in rural communities and strengthening local economies.

“We are thrilled and deeply encouraged that Minister Sigurdson recognizes the immense inflationary pressures put on co-ops when undertaking any capital improvement project, especially a large-scale endeavour like ours,” said Rick Kemp, chair, Innisfail Seed Cleaning Co-op. “Through years of hard work and disciplined financial planning, we broke ground on a new $6.5-million state-of-the-art facility slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. Although our project is already underway, this provincial funding is a critical lifeline; it ensures we can complete the build exactly as envisioned without being forced to trim key aspects of the project due to constant cost-control pressures.”

Quick facts

• Alberta is home to 66 seed facilities in 61 municipalities in Alberta.
• These facilities cleaned 42.2 million bushels of seed and grain in 2024, which represents about 16 million tonnes of crop production.
• Beginning in 2026, the government will invest $3 million per year through the 2028-29 fiscal year.