Agriculture research in Canada could be set back by decades. That’s what farm groups across the nation are reacting over word that several agriculture Canada research farms are being mothballed. That includes the research centre in Lacombe, where more than 100 staff were handed their notices last week. It’s part of the federal government’s cost cutting measures announced in last fall’s budget. Jocelyn Velestuk, chair of the Canadian Western Research Council says the biggest question they have, and it was a question that Kevin Hursh had as well, is whether a core breeding agreement with Ag Canada is going to be impacted by the layoffs and closures. “Right now, we have current core breeding agreement with AFC. With that, farmers are putting in 19.9 million dollars over three years. It is definitely a concern that we want to make sure it is able to continue. We don’t want to see any gaps in research if we lose staff and research expert capacity.”
The council is also reviewing Canada’s wheat breeding innovation system in light of the cuts. She’s hoping adequate research will continue to keep Canadian farmers competitive. “We really need to keep getting those elite varieties out there because we need to be competitive globally, especially with wheat. We know as farmers, we need to get the quality wheat out there.”
Keith Currie, president of the CFA says they certainly have concern over the loss of very talented researchers across the country, “As late as last week, I met with Minister McDonald, a number of us did, around the launch of the consultations for the next policy framework. One of the consistent messages that we delivered, along with several others, is that we need an increase in research, not a decrease. We are concerned that announcement will really jeopardize research going forward for agriculture in Canada.”
-With Files From Dean Thorpe-
Comments