CALGARY, AB: The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association applauds the level of collaboration demonstrated by various funding partners in the formation of a new wheat research cluster, known as the National Wheat Improvement Project (NWIP).

Yesterday’s announcement saw the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF), the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) and the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) partner with the federal government to contribute $25.2 million over five years to support the development of new wheat varieties under the NWIP.

“It is good to see this level of co-operation among key funders of wheat research,” says Levi Wood, President of the Wheat Growers. “To leverage the most out of our research dollars, we must ensure funding bodies are not operating in silos.”

The Wheat Growers thank the federal government for its $12.5 million contribution to NWIP, effectively matching the contribution made by farmers through the WGRF, CFCRA and AWC. The Wheat Growers will be encouraging the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association to become part of the NWIP, as soon as elected boards of those organizations are in place and in a position to make such decisions.

“The announcement yesterday sets an important precedent,” says Gerrid Gust, Chair of the Wheat Growers. “It signals a new level of co-operation among funding bodies and among various researchers across the country. It will help ensure Canadian wheat producers get maximum value for their investment in research.”

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