FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 (Carman, MB) – Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) is contributing $500,000 to the University of Manitoba (UM) towards the building of the Prairie Crops & Soil Research Facility (PCSRF). The PCSRF will further strengthen the UM’s already well-recognized agronomy and crop production teaching and research programs. Construction of the new facility will begin next year.

“I thank our research collaborators at MCA for their leadership and vision in the support of the new PCSRF, one of the Faculty’s most significant renewal strategies for research in crop production. This gift represents investment in agricultural research by Manitoba’s farmers that will foster the development of integrated and resilient agronomic systems to the benefit of Western Canadian producers,” says Dr. Martin Scanlon, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, UM.

The PCSRF will increase the capacity for crop research and allow scientists to better integrate soils, crop, entomology and livestock research to make crop production in Manitoba more sustainable. Farmers in Manitoba will benefit from research topics including agronomic and cropping systems for optimized performance and longer-term sustainability, weed management, advanced crop protection, new cultivars and crops, profitability of nutrient strategies, and carbon benefits of crop production practices.

“MCA wishes to express our gratitude for the UM’s continued commitment to the improvement of facilities and equipment that are so essential for advanced modern research and the training of highly qualified personnel,” says Fred Greig, Chair of MCA. “We anticipate this expansion and modernization of research capacity at the UM will accelerate the growth and health of our industry by putting innovative solutions in the hands of our farmer members.”

MCA values the partnership with the UM and are currently supporting 30 projects totaling approximately $500,000 per annum. MCA will continue to work together with the UM to address research priorities and communicate research results to our members.

For more information about MCA research investments, please visit mbcropalliance.ca/research/projects. For more information about the UM, please visit https://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-food-sciences/.

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About Manitoba Crop Alliance:
Manitoba Crop Alliance is a non-profit organization established August 1, 2020 representing over 9,000 farmer-members. Manitoba Crop Alliance puts their farmer-members first and strives to continuously improve the competitiveness and profitability of all crops represented by the organization by focusing on four main areas: research, agronomy, market access and development, and communications. It is through investment in these key areas that Manitoba Crop Alliance can ensure wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax are sustainable production choices for Manitoba farmers. For more information, visit mbcropalliance.ca.

About University of Manitoba:
The University of Manitoba is home to a community of more than 29,000 students, 5,000 academic staff and 3,900 support staff. Recognized as Western Canada’s first university and located in the city of Winnipeg, the University is committed to advancing Indigenous research and achievement, recognizing the significant contributions of Indigenous peoples in Canada. UM is one of the U15, ranking among Canada’s top research-intensive universities and is Manitoba’s only medical-doctoral post-secondary institution. Providing high-quality liberal arts, science and professional programs of study, the University inspires undergraduate and graduate students to positively impact their communities as globally-engaged citizens.

For more information, please contact:

Pam de Rocquigny

Chief Executive Officer

Manitoba Crop Alliance

204.745.6661 | pam@mbcropalliance.ca

Brooke Karlaftis

Donor Relations

University of Manitoba

204-474-7835 | Brooke.Karlaftis@umanitoba.ca