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Ag Minister Ritz announces formation of Canadian Wheat Alliance

May 17, 2013 | 6:47 AM

Hoping to improve the quality of Canadian wheat, the federal and provincial governments have partnered with the University of Saskatchewan and created the Canadian Wheat Alliance (CWA).

“Wheat has been king in Western Canada for a number of years, now it’s more than a rotational crop as people look to wheat as a good return on their investment,” said federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz.

Ritz alongside Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart and University of Saskatchewan president Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac made the announcement at the National Research Council facility at the university campus.

The partnership will invest $97 million over the first five years of the initiative to support research to improve the profitability of the Canadian wheat industry.

With Canada being the major wheat producers in the world, wheat crops contribute $11 billion annually to Canada’s economy, however, this alliance believe they can make it better.

“It’s fortuitous to come up with new varieties that will withstand the trials and tribulations of trying to grow a crop out here in the prairies,” said Ritz.

Minister Lyle Stewart said with Saskatchewan owning 45 per cent of all the available farmland in Canada, this sort of research needs to happen in this province.

“We will be a huge benefactor from this. Wheat research over the last number of decades has fallen a bit behind some other crops, specifically canola and pulse crops,” said Stewart.

“We have huge wheat-producing potential in this province and we have the potential to feed a substantial part of the world.”

In terms of results, the Canadian Wheat Alliance hopes to squeeze in 10 more bushels per acre, increase the average wheat yield by 30 per cent over the next 15 years and grow three-quarters of the country’s total wheat.

The Government of Canada has committed $85 million, the U of S will be footing $1.4 million each year for the next five years and the provincial government will provide $10 million of funding for wheat research.

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