The Honourable Laurence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC), announced the Diverse Field Crop Cluster (DFCC) yesterday. Led by Ag-West Bio, the DFCC supports research for a variety of small-acreage crops.

Wayne Thompson, Executive Director of the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF), expressed enthusiasm for the Cluster: “WGRF is pleased to be investing just over $1 million into the Diverse Field Crop Cluster over the next five years. Collaboration is a cornerstone of our research approach. Including the Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster, which WGRF leads, and our investment in the Wheat Cluster earlier this year, WGRF is investing over $10.8 million into research through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership Program.”

Laura Reiter, Chair of the WGRF Board, highlighted the significance of these investments, stating, “Ongoing investment in smaller acreage crops is essential for farmers to maintain viable crop rotation options.”

The federal government’s investment of up to $8.12 million in funding through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, combined with industry contributions over $6 million, bring the total value of the five-year project to over $15 million.

WGRF would like to acknowledge the contributions of all funders of the Diverse Field Crop Cluster: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ag-West Bio, Mustard 21 Canada Inc., Smart Earth Camelina Corporation, Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Nuseed Canada, and the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission.