Global Institute for Food Security receives $15mn to improve Saskatchewan’s agriculture

The Saskatchewan government has announced a $15mn funding commitment over the next five years to the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan. According to Agriculture Minister David Marit, the investment aims to promote agricultural research and innovation, and enable Saskatchewan to maintain a competitive edge in the global agricultural sector.

The funding for GIFS will support a host of market-facing programs that includes accelerated breeding, biomanufacturing, and enhancements in policy and regulatory frameworks. With an annual allocation of $3mn from 2023 to 2027, the government said that the funding demonstrates its commitment to promoting food security.

The move follows the publication of GIFS research demonstrating that crops like canola, non-durum wheat, field peas, durum wheat, and lentils grown in Saskatchewan have a considerably lower carbon footprint than crops cultivated in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States.

GIFS, established in 2012 through a collaborative effort involving Nutrien, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the University of Saskatchewan.