Key Takeaways
- Joint federal-provincial investment will fund two new research facilities at the University of Saskatchewan
- The initiative supports the IntegrOmes project, focused on sustainable beef genetics and reproductive efficiency
- Funding delivered through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP)
- Research centers include the Omics Resource Centre (WCVM) and Beef Reprotech facilities (LFCE)
- Project aims to improve productivity, animal health, and environmental stewardship in the livestock sector
New Investment to Strengthen Saskatchewan’s Livestock Innovation Infrastructure
Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison have announced a $3.4 million investment over four years to support the development of two research facilities at the University of Saskatchewan (USask). The funding, delivered through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), will support:
- The Omics Resource Centre at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)
- The Beef Reprotech facilities at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE)
This investment supports Canada’s long-term goal of strengthening agri-food sustainability and innovation.
“Innovation—like what we are seeing through genomics research—is vital to the continued success of Canada’s agriculture sector,” said Minister MacDonald.
IntegrOmes Project to Enhance Breeding Precision and Sustainability
The new research effort, titled IntegrOmes (Integrated Genomics for Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship), aims to improve livestock genetics by identifying and applying genomic markers linked to favorable traits. Researchers will also evaluate reproductive performance and develop tools to help producers make data-driven breeding decisions.
“This investment builds on that legacy—helping ensure Saskatchewan’s ranchers remain global leaders at what they do best,” said Minister Harrison.
University of Saskatchewan at the Forefront of Livestock Research
The University of Saskatchewan’s research in animal health, veterinary science, and forage systems plays a key role in advancing sustainable livestock production. The WCVM and LFCE are recognized globally as hubs for innovation, teaching, and knowledge transfer within the agricultural sector.
“Genomic research is advancing rapidly, and USask is leading the way in this evolving field,” said Dr. Baljit Singh, Vice-President of Research at USask. “This work wouldn’t be possible without the support of this joint funding.”
Sustainable CAP Supports Sector Resilience and Competitiveness
The investment aligns with shared priorities under Sustainable CAP, a five-year, $3.5 billion federal-provincial-territorial initiative aimed at improving competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency in Canadian agriculture. The program includes $1 billion in federally delivered funding and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programming.
