The federal government has committed $3 million to the Flax Council of Canada for research in flax genetics and agronomics.
Winnipeg MP Joyce Bateman announced the investment in Winnipeg this morning.
“Creating new flax varieties and improving agronomics will increase producers’ profitability and allow processors and exporters to continue selling a high-quality product around the world,” said Bateman in a news release from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
According to AAFC, the investment will support development of new flax varieties through the “Rapid Development Trait System,” a regulated non-genetically modified system for producing new flax traits.
Some of the funding will also be used to develop best management practices to help farmers reach higher yields.
“Feed application and export markets continue to expand and investments toward advanced agronomic research projects are vital in keeping pace with the growing demand for flaxseed,” said Don Kerr, president of the Flax Council of Canada.
AAFC researchers will be collaborating with industry in a number of activities, including research looking at disease management, seed quality and genetic resistance to heat and drought.
The funding is coming from the Agri-Innovation program under Growing Forward 2.
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