Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) is pleased to be co-funding the Sunflower Variety Development Initiative in collaboration with both the Federal and provincial governments and the National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC). WGRF will be investing $316,700 over the next four years towards developing new Canadian sunflower varieties that will boost sunflower acreage in Western Canada.

In 2012, WGRF established relationships with provincial agriculture funding bodies in western Canada and other producer commodity groups to review proposals submitted to these organizations and co-fund projects in priority areas. “WGRF funded this project through a call for proposals from the Agri-Food Research & Development Initiative (ARDI) in Manitoba,” said Garth Patterson, WGRF Executive Director. “The Sunflower Variety Development Initiative will work to achieve the goal of producing adaptable, disease resistant and herbicide tolerant, confection sunflower specifically for the Canadian market.

“The NSAC is pleased to be receiving support from the Western Grains Research Foundation on our Confection Sunflower Variety Development Initiative,” Gregg Fotheringham, President of the National Sunflower Association of Canada. “The sunflower industry has the potential to increase domestic and international exports with the development of long-type confectionary sunflowers. This investment will help producers grow new sunflower seed varieties while allowing them to capture new market opportunities, increase their bottom dollar and strengthen the sunflower industry of Canada.”