Project Description – An initiative to develop and market new confection seed varieties for Canadian sunflower producers. The project has the goal to provide growers access to new seed varieties that have characteristics specifically suited for northern growing conditions.
MCA applied for continued funding towards the confection sunflower variety development program for an additional five years through the Diverse Field Crops Cluster. The Diverse Fields Crops Cluster is an agriscience cluster that supports the research and development of high -potential emerging crops: flax, camelina, canaryseed, sunflower, hemp, quinoa and mustard. On January 15, 2019 Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced over $13 million in funding from AAFC through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program. This investment, combined with industry contributions of nearly $11 million, brings the value of the cluster to over $24 million.
MCA was approved for matching funding over the five years at a total of $2.467 million dollars towards our variety development project. An investment of $1.233 million in funding from AAFC through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program under the Diverse Field Crops Cluster, $235,125 over three years from Manitoba Agriculture through the CAP—Research & Innovation project (must re-apply in 2021) and $320,650 from Western Grain Research Foundation.
The overall objective of this research is to increase the profitability of growing sunflowers for Canadian producers. The first step in meeting the goal is to develop long-type confection hybrids with herbicide and disease resistance that have the seed type and quality demanded by the processing industry that can be successfully grown in Manitoba and expanded across Canada.
The project will be broken down into two activities:
2022-23 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
$443,028
Funding Partners:Funded in part with Diverse Fields Crops Cluster, CAP – Research & Innovation and WGRF