Canada: Govt to invest in forage seed sector

These improvements will deliver more value to producers and help meet the growing demand for forage seed both domestically and internationally.

Under this project, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers will collaborate with the industry on a number of activities to help the sector. Research will be done on how incorporating forage seed production within annual crop rotations can increase value for producers; evaluating the seed yield potential of forage and turf grass varieties in western Canada, and examining ways to increase the quality of grass and legume seed crops in Canada.

The investment is made through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698-million (€461 mln) initiative under Growing Forward 2. The Program’s industry-led research and development stream supports pre-commercialisation research, development and knowledge transfer leading to innovative agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based practices, processes, and products.

There are 326,000 acres of land in forage seed production in Canada, with exports of forage seeds averaging about $280 million (€185 mln) annually – the United States and Europe among the key export destinations.