KINGSTON — Soybeans are one of the largest field crops in Canada, generating $14 billion in annual economic output. Research and innovation in the soy industry are helping producers evolve by enhancing crop resilience and yield in response to more frequent extreme weather events and the need to reduce the environmental footprint of farms, while feeding a growing population.
To support soybean producers, today, Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $2,325,361 over 4 years to Performance Plants Inc. (PPI) through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
This funding will allow PPI to develop climate change-resistant, high-yielding soybean through selected genetic lines and will also enable field testing. The objective is to create soybean varieties that are more heat and drought tolerant, herbicide resistant, use water efficiently, and sequester carbon into the soil. PPI continues to further new soybean trait and genome development to ensure they have the best characteristics to withstand harsh climates.
Quick facts
- The project supports the program priority areas of Economic Growth and Development, Climate Change and Environment, and Sector Resilience and Societal Challenges.
- PPI received over $2 million in funding under the previous framework, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
- Performance Plants Inc. is an agricultural biotechnology company incorporated in 1995. The company has developed key technologies to achieve higher and more consistent crop yields through improved heat tolerance, drought tolerance and reduced water requirements.
- The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector, and Canadians.
- The AgriScience Program – Projects Component is currently accepting applications.
