Canada's New Government Invests $1.9 Million in 28 Agricultural Research Projects in Atlantic Canada

CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(CCNMatthews - March 2, 2007) - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced that Canada's New Government would invest $1.9 million in 28 projects in Atlantic Canada.

The announcement was made at the National Research Council Institute for Nutrisciences and Health where Minister Strahl discussed the completion of an external Peer Review of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research projects for 2007-2008. The Minister also took the opportunity to announce that Canada's New Government would invest $22.1 million for 233 research projects across Canada.

"Canada's New Government is proud to announce new agricultural research projects that will be relevant and innovative to our farmers and Canadians, and which lead to greater prosperity and profitability of Canada's agricultural sector," said Minister Strahl. "By conducting this Peer Review process, we are ensuring that scientists will now focus on traditional areas of research, as well as new research priorities in the areas of health, the environment and the bioeconomy."

"The research centres and the scientists here in Charlottetown and across Atlantic Canada, will also be contributing important research to help advance our country's agricultural sector," Minister Strahl added.

Canada's New Government launched the Peer Review process in 2006 to ensure future research projects are based on excellence in science, as well as the competitiveness of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. AAFC will continue to submit future proposals to external Peer Review to uphold the credibility of its science and ensure sound investment of public funds.

These research projects will be completed in Atlantic Canada research centres located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Fredericton, New Brunswick; Kentville, Nova Scotia; and St-John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and will include:

- developing energy-efficient processing technologies and equipment for enhancing food products;

- developing disease management strategies for sustainable potato production;

- developing environmentally responsible crop management strategies for apple production; and

- focusing on genomic approaches to potato improvement, including enhanced resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress.

For more information on the results of the external Peer Review process, please visit the Website at: www.agr.gc.ca/research-projects.

BACKGROUNDER

In May 2006, Minister Strahl announced Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Science and Innovation Strategy which identified seven national goals and priorities to ensure AAFC's investments and efforts in science and innovation remain relevant to the agricultural sector.

The Peer Review has allowed the department to realign its research efforts and resources by submitting research project proposals to external evaluation by the scientific community prior to allocating funds.

Project proposals were submitted to four external review panels focused on plant sciences, animal sciences, environment and ecology and food sciences. The panels were composed of 38 expert scientists from organizations outside AAFC, who used preliminary evaluations from 330 external experts. Each proposal was evaluated against specific selection criteria including, assuring the best possible investment of public funds, ensuring scientific excellence, and providing international-caliber science in the agriculture and agri-food sector.

During this process, scientists were encouraged to use integrated, multi-disciplinary research projects that involved more than one scientist and included research coordination and collaboration with other government departments and agencies, academia and/or industry. In total, 233 research proposals were identified for support.

Scientists will continue to conduct research in traditional areas, while exploring new promising areas for research to help build a sustainable and competitive agriculture and agri-food sector for the 21st Century.

More information on AAFC's external Peer Review and its results are available online at www.agr.gc.ca/research-projects.