Canada's canola sector is receiving $1.9 million dollars in funding to advance the industry's research, innovation, and profitability. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is investing over $980,000 in research through the Canola Council of Canada, with the provincial grower organizations from Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan set to match this contribution.

"This is a really good anchor, it's a really good start to the research we're embarking on," says Canola Council crop production and innovation vice president Curtis Rempel.

The research investment will support the Council's strategic plan, Keep it Coming: 52 by 2025, which sets yield goals at 52 bushels per acre by 2025. Rempel says this level of production is needed to keep up with canola oil demand, which is estimated to reach 26 million metric tonnes by 2025.

Rempel says with this in mind, however, their research work needs to cover more than just yield goals.

"It has to be increased profitability, increased sustainability, and reduced production risk. And this research announcement and the research projects contained within all address those outcomes of our strategy," he says.

Rempel says the four pillars of their research will be centered around stand establishment, fertility, pest management, and harvest management and storage.