Federal government contributing $11 million to new pulse crop research cluster

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The federal government will be contributing up to $11,017,979 million to Pulse Canada for a new pulse crop research cluster under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership — the five-year framework that started in 2023.

Winnipeg South Centre MP Ben Carr announced the federal commitment at the University of Manitoba on Friday afternoon.

“I’m happy to announce the significant investment our government is making to support research and development in the pulse sector. This support will help farmers improve their pulse crops, be better positioned to adapt to a changing industry and face production challenges head-on,” said Carr, in a news release from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says expected outcomes from the research cluster include:

  • the development of new management practices for reduced fertilizer and fungicide applications that will support the federal government’s climate targets;
  • the development of new varieties that improve production efficiency, protein yield, and profitability;
  • the development of pulse varieties resistant to disease and resilient to environmental stress.

“Canada is a world leader in sustainable pulse production and exportation. These investments in research from the Government of Canada, matched by our sector, will help enhance our resiliency to meet the growing global demand for sustainably grown, high quality pulses and ingredients while making a positive impact on our environment and economy,” noted Pulse Canada chair and Alberta farmer Kevin Auch.

The federal government contributed $11.1 million to the previous pulse research cluster, which ran from 2018 to 2023 under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Cluster program. The prior pulse research cluster, which ran from 2013 to 2018, received $15 million in federal funding under the Growing Forward 2 framework.

Related: Canola Council receives $9 million through Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership for canola research cluster

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