Seven research sites to close, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada confirms https://www.producer.com/news/saskatchewan-agricultural-research-centres-cut/
Three Agriculture Agri-Food Canada research and development centres and four satellite research farms will close, the federal government has confirmed Friday. Research and development centres at Guelph, Ont., Quebec City, Que., and Lacombe, Alta., will close, an AAFC spokesperson said in a statement on Friday afternoon. Satellite research farms at Nappan, N.S., Scott, Sask., Indian Head, Sask. and Portage la Prairie, Man., will also close…
Cuts to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) could be a step toward restructuring Canada’s agriculture research landscape, according to national stakeholders. Keith Currie, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) called the cutbacks a “necessary evil” and said Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Deputy Minister Lawrence Hanson have their “fingers on the pulse of the ministry.”
OK, its a cost cutting measure. It comes with the times. Some believe occasional fat trimming it healthy. It makes it easier to get the less productive to move on.
I think you can name canola oil as one of the Canada ag successes. And climate change means Canada need to adapt. Perhaps learn to grow new crops in Canada.
Did Doge in the US result in ag research cuts. (We hear they are closing the energy research center from the Carter days in Colorado.) USDA has regional research centers spread across the country. The one in Peoria, IL is best known for grain research. They played a key role in the development of penicillin in World War II. The one in New Orleans does wood products research. One in the east does textile research. There are probably others. High fructose corn syrup. Ethanol from corn. Green revolution (high yield salt tolerant rice). Are probably part of their successes.
Today companies like Monsanto/Bayer do research on genetic modified crops with much success. Developing drought tolerant crops is important. Industry is willing to fund research with profit potential but govt research can engage in more speculative work.
I did a search and one search result indicated Canada has close to 20 agricultural research facilities. I guess, in some cases, some work could likely be shifted to one of the other locations.