Alberta’s push to re-centre agricultural research around producer priorities has been anything but conventional. Five years after Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) was launched amid controversy and structural change, outgoing chair Dr. David Chalack says the organization’s impact comes down to governance, trust, and speed. In this one-on-one conversation at RDAR's showcase, Dr. David Chalack... Read More
Category: Research
D'Arcy Hilgartner is stepping into the role of board chair at RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research) as the organization continues to sharpen its focus on delivering practical research to Alberta producers. A long-time board member, Hilgartner says the priority remains clear: ensuring research investments translate into measurable value on the farm. Hilgartner, who has served... Read More
It's time to rethink how we fund plant breeding. While much of Canadian agriculture has evolved to meet today’s demands, the model for funding plant breeding is lagging—and risks falling behind entirely. That’s the concern raised by Jason Reinheimer, global head of cereals and pulse research at Limagrain Field Seeds, in this episode of the... Read More
The Alberta government has expressed concern following a federal announcement that could see several Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research stations shut down, including the Lacombe facility. Speaking at the Crossroads Crop Conference in Edmonton, Alta., Alberta’s assistant deputy minister of primary agriculture, John Conrad, says the province is still absorbing the news but is... Read More
Dear Members of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, I own and operate a grain farm in central Alberta, a mere one-hour drive from the AAFC Research and Development Centre in Lacombe, AB. I understand that this station is one of seven across Canada, that will be closed along with the loss of 665... Read More
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has confirmed plans to close seven federal research facilities across the country, including the Lacombe Research and Development Centre in central Alberta. The move is part of a broader federal expenditure review that will eliminate hundreds of positions, with over 100 jobs affected at Lacombe alone. AAFC says the changes... Read More
Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) executive director Doug Miller is stepping down after 15 years with the organization, marking the end of a tenure defined by transformation, modernization, and rising urgency around Canada’s seed system. In this interview following his departure announcement, Miller reflects on his career and warns of the mounting challenges facing Canada’s... Read More
By Elisabeta Lika and Tyler McCann In a week when the Prime Minister said that a country that cannot feed itself has few options, it was tough to see Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) cut staff, close research centres, and shrink R&D spending. Public R&D is often the unsung hero of the adaptation and innovation... Read More
Details are starting to emerge on the impact of the Carney government's cost-cutting measures within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). AAFC is closing three research and development centres – Guelph (ON), Quebec City (QC), and Lacombe (AB) – and four satellite research farms – Nappan (NS), Scott (SK), Indian Head (SK) and Portage la Prairie... Read More
After confirmation of imminent staffing cuts at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) yesterday, today news broke of multiple AAFC research facilities being shut down. Social media posts on Jan. 22 claim that sites including the AAFC Lacombe Research and Development Centre at Lacombe, Alta., and the Nappan Experimental Farm/AAFC Nappan Research Farm in Cumberland County,... Read More