Today, Mr. Brad Trost, MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), and the Honourable Rob Norris, Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration and Minister responsible for Innovation, on behalf of the Honourable Bob Bjornerud, Minister of Agriculture, announced more than $5.6 million in research funding that will result in new wheat varieties for Canadian farmers.

"The Government of Canada is investing in science and research to create jobs, economic growth and improve the quality of life of Canadians," MP Trost said. "These investments will help farmers and others in the agricultural industry by increasing the diversity of high quality wheat produced in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner."

"Agriculture research is a continuing priority for our government and we are pleased to fund this important project," Minister Norris said. "This research will result in new varieties of wheat that will benefit our producers and the entire agriculture industry."

The CTAG project was provided $4.1 million in funding through Genome Canada's 2010 Large Scale Applied Research Project Competition, announced on March 25, 2011 as part of $60 million in Government of Canada funding for 16 new Genome Canada applied research projects that will use genomics research to improve key sectors of the Canadian economy.

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $1.5 million through its Agriculture Development Fund.

Research in Saskatchewan will be lead by Drs. Curtis Pozniak and Pierre Hucl, the Ministry of Agriculture's Strategic Research Chairs, working out of the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.

"This research is timely and necessary, and supports other international efforts in providing Canadian wheat breeders with tools and resources to accelerate wheat improvement to meet the global challenge of increased food production," Genome Prairie President and CEO Wilf Keller said.

Other funding partners for this project include the Western Grains Research Foundation, Viterra, Genome Alberta, the Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund, France's National Institute for Agricultural Research and India's National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute.

"This investment in research will undoubtedly strengthen and advance cereal breeding programs across Western Canada," Western Grains Research Foundation Chairman Dr. Keith Degenhardt said. "With the potential to accelerate the crop breeding cycle and speed the release of improved varieties to the market, this project is a worthwhile and powerful investment that will provide a great return for crop producers."

"Research is vital to the growth of our industry," Western Canadian Wheat Growers Saskatchewan Vice-President Geoffrey Hewson said. "This project will lead to new and improved wheat varieties that will benefit producers for years to come."

-30-

For more information, contact:

Donna Rehirchuk
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5389
Email: donna.rehirchuk@hotmail.com

Carol Reynolds
Genome Prairie
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-241-9033
Email: creynolds@genomeprairie.ca