U of S Partners Open $3-Million Pulse Crop Field Lab
Posted November 09, 2005
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 9, 2005 2005-11-10-AG
U of S Partners Open $3-Million Pulse Crop Field Lab
A unique-in-Canada, $3-million pulse crop research lab opened today at the
University of Saskatchewan, the result of more than three years of effort by
the university, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), the governments of Canada
and Saskatchewan, and numerous partners in industry.
The new state-of-the-art lab is expected to meet the crop breeding and
research needs of the pulse industry for the next 30 years. It adds 1,200
square metres to the existing U of S Crop Science Field Laboratory just east
of campus near the corner of 108th Street and Preston Avenue in Saskatoon.
For the first time, all aspects of pulse research programs at the U of S
Crop Development Centre -- from breeding, pathology and crop physiology to
data processing and seed storage -- will be located together, increasing
efficiency and allowing research programs into crops such as peas, lentils,
chickpeas, and beans to expand.
"The opening of Canada's newest pulse crop research facility enables
Saskatchewan and western Canadian producers to cultivate a superior product
and meet the increasing international demand for pulses," said Finance
Minister Ralph Goodale, on behalf of Stephen Owen, Minister of Western
Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport). "This investment
builds on the expertise of crop scientists at the U of S and supports
Saskatchewan pulse growers who produce the largest percentage of Canada's
peas and lentils."
"Saskatchewan is a world centre of excellence for research, production,
value added-processing and marketing of pulse crops," said Saskatchewan
Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman. "This strategic investment in
pulse crop research infrastructure will ensure continued growth of the pulse
industry and contribute to increased wealth in Saskatchewan."
The project was spearheaded by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, which has a
long history of generous support for pulse research.
"Of our $3 million invested in research programs in 2004-05, 70 per cent was
awarded to the University of Saskatchewan," SPG Chair Dean Corbett said. "We
know this research support has a big impact on the industry. The 2003
Gray-Scott study shows that every dollar SPG invests in research leads to a
$15.60 return for farmers and a $31.30 return for the industry as a whole."
CDC Director Rick Holm said the new lab will advance development of new crop
varieties, improve disease management and enhance quality, while keeping
Canada's growing pulse industry profitable over the long term.
"By building on this strong partnership of government, industry and the
university, we now have the space and research capacity to take Saskatchewan
pulses into the future, whether it be varieties that perform better in our
province's fields or varieties that meet the requirements of current and
emerging markets," Holm said. "This expansion will also help attract
graduate students and visiting scientists."
The main funders are the Canada-Saskatchewan Agri-Food Innovation Fund and
Western Economic Diversification Canada, which committed $1.5 million and
$750,000 respectively. Other contributors include BASF Canada with
$125,000, Philom Bios Inc. with $100,000, and Morris Industries with
$75,000. Nitragin Inc., Bayer Crop Science, Becker Underwood, Bourgault
Industries, and Syngenta Crop Protection Canada Inc. each contributed
$50,000. Twenty-seven additional donors contributed amounts ranging from
$100 to $30,000. A full list of donors is available from Saskatchewan Pulse
Growers.
Saskatchewan's 20,000 pulse growers are a national success story, together
making Canada the world's largest exporter of peas and lentils and a major
exporter of chickpeas.
Saskatchewan produces 99 per cent of the country's lentils and 70 per cent
of its peas. Pulses are now planted on four to five million acres annually,
making them the province's third most important crop export, accounting for
about 15 per cent of income at the farm gate.
The U of S has played an integral role in the development of the province's
pulse industry. Fewer than a dozen Saskatchewan farmers had tried growing
lentils when a breeding program was established at the CDC not long after
the Centre's inception in 1971. Since then, the CDC has released 92 pulse
crop varieties including 32 lentil, 20 pea, 22 bean, 13 chickpea and five
fababean varieties.
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For more information, contact:
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Garth Patterson
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
(306) 668-6676
gpatterson@saskpulse.com
www.saskpulse.com
Scott Brown
Communications
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4031
Joanne Mysak
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(306) 975-5942
Rick Holm
Director, Crop Development Centre
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8195
www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/cdc.html
