The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing up to $6.4 million to establish the Prairie Crops and Soils Research Facility (PCSRF) at the Fort Garry campus of the University of Manitoba, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Manitoba Advanced Education and Training Minister Sarah Guillemard and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced today.
Manitoba Advanced Education and Training is providing funding of up to $5.9 million in capital investment over 3 years and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is providing $500,000 to create a new state-of-the-art 20,000 square foot facility that meets the future needs of Canadian farmers and industry.
The total budget for the PCSRF is $20.7 million, including investments from agricultural industry organizations. The new facility is set to be operational by June 2026.
The PCSRF will meet the emerging needs of our food system that Canadian farmers and the industry can innovate in a wide range of areas including nutrient management, cropping systems, digital agronomy and breeding. This initiative was developed through a multi-year consultation with agronomists, entomologists, pathologists, plant breeders, geneticists, soil scientists and other stakeholders in the industry.
The current facility at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba is nearing the end of its lifespan, and this new facility will expand and modernize agronomic research and training. The PCSRF will improve the quantity, quality, and efficiency of seed, soil, and plant sample processing, analysis and archiving, and will integrate soil, crop, entomology, livestock and engineering research for creative sustainable crop production solutions.
The Ministers noted this initiative aligns with Manitoba government's priories of strategic investments that advance education, as well as developing economic growth opportunities in sustainable agriculture.
