The Saskatchewan government is committing $15 million in funding over five years to the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan.
“Investing in research activities undertaken by GIFS and similar institutions is the first step toward enabling Saskatchewan’s producers to not only stay competitive, but proving that they remain among the most productive, innovative and sustainable in the world,” said Agriculture Minister David Marit, announcing the funding on Monday.
The money will “enable collaboration with partners on our market-facing programs, including accelerated breeding, biomanufacturing and policy and regulatory – maximizing Saskatchewan and Canada’s sustainable production of safe and nutritious food for a growing world,” said GIFS CEO Steven Webb.
The province will be allocating $3 million to the institute annually from 2023 through 2027.
Research results published by GIFS in January provided evidence that crop production in Saskatchewan — specifically canola, non-durum wheat, field peas, durum wheat, and lentils — has a significantly smaller carbon footprint compared with the same crops grown in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States.
The institute was founded in 2012 in a partnership between Nutrien (then PotashCorp), the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan.
