Key Takeaways
- More than $4.5 million has been awarded to 24 University of Saskatchewan (USask)–led crop research projects through the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).
- In total, 39 crop-focused projects received ADF funding, with USask researchers leading more than half of them.
- The funding supports research spanning soil health, crop genetics, pest and disease management, protein processing, and climate-smart agriculture.
- Additional support includes $2.5 million from the Strategic Research Initiative for herbicide resistance research.
- Industry partners contributed an additional $3.2 million across all funded projects.
Major Investment in Crop Research at USask Announced at Saskatchewan Crops Forum
More than $4.5 million has been allocated to 24 crop-focused research projects led by the University of Saskatchewan (USask) through the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF), a joint federal and provincial funding program supporting agricultural innovation. The announcement was made at the Saskatchewan Crops Forum by Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture David Marit.
Overall, 39 new crop research projects received ADF funding in this round, with USask researchers spearheading more than half of the initiatives.
“The incredible agricultural research and researchers at USask are unquestionably among the best in the world,” said Baljit Singh, Vice-President Research at USask. “This level of support is a testament to the strength and innovation of USask’s agricultural research ecosystem that supports Saskatchewan agrifood producers.”
Broad Research Scope Across Crops, Soils, and Processing
The funded projects span a wide range of priorities, including soil carbon storage, crop disease resistance, breeding for climate resilience, protein processing, and sustainable use of agricultural byproducts. Research areas include wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils, pulses, oilseeds, saskatoon berries, wild rice, and canary seed, reflecting Saskatchewan’s diverse crop landscape.
Several projects focus on soil health and carbon dynamics, such as evaluating agricultural wetland management, advancing soil data hubs, and improving soil carbon measurement techniques. Others target genetic resistance to pests and diseases, including bacterial leaf streak, wheat stem sawfly, pea aphids, and preharvest sprouting in wheat.
Additional Federal and Industry Support For USask Researchers
In addition to ADF funding, multiple USask researchers are participating in a $2.5 million project funded through the Strategic Research Initiative (SRI), led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This initiative focuses on managing herbicide-resistant kochia and wild oat populations, a growing challenge for prairie crop production.
The ADF and SRI programs operate under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3.5 billion federal-provincial-territorial investment aimed at strengthening competitiveness, innovation, and resilience in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
Alongside government funding, industry partners contributed an additional $3.2 million across all 39 ADF-funded projects this year, highlighting strong private-sector engagement.
Strengthening Saskatchewan and Canada’s Agri-Food Future
“Agriculture in Saskatchewan and the research done at USask to support this industry are critically important,” said Dr. Trever Crowe, Acting Dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. “Funding from the Agriculture Development Fund provides support for the research that drives growth and innovation.”
The funded projects are expected to deliver practical outcomes for producers, processors, and the broader agri-food value chain, supporting productivity, sustainability, and long-term resilience in Saskatchewan and beyond.
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