The federal government is investing $15 million into Protein Industries Canada; the funding is being used to strengthen Canada's agri-food sector.
The new funding will focus on genomics and AI programs by bringing new tools to plant breeders, farmers, ingredient processors, and food manufacturers.
The programs will enable farmers and companies across Canada’s agrifood sector to build a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable food system.
The full value-chain approach will expand the range of Canadian-made ingredient options while also creating new economic opportunities.
Through the new five-year Genomics Stream, Protein Industries Canada will invest $7 million into the commercialization of new and improved broad-acre crop varieties, with a focus on pulse and cereal crops.
The other $8 million will go into artificial intelligence programming, focusing on developing tools that accelerate seed genetic work; supply chain optimization; on-farm information gathering; quality assurance and food safety protocols; and ingredient and food formulation.