News & Updates
RDAR allocates $3 Million to Funding Agriculture Research
2021-01-28
Due to positive researcher response, RDAR puts forward additional $3 Million towards funding targeted ag research proposals
Driven to steer Alberta agriculture research in a bold new direction, last fall RDAR set out to create an integrated, producer-led targeted call for research proposals. This call would connect farmers and ranchers to scientists, educational institutions for one common goal: to make Alberta agriculture as competitive and profitable as possible.
Now, it is with great pleasure that we can announce that decisions have been made on our targeted call, and we at RDAR have begun to approve and notify researchers of their successful research proposals and projects.
Our inaugural call for proposals was very well received. At the close of this call, RDAR received 117 meaningful, innovative, and results-driven proposals – focused on making a positive impact on Alberta’s agriculture and food sectors.
Due to the immense response from our research community, RDAR has allocated an additional 3-Million dollars towards funding proposals, on top of the original 4 Million dedicated to funding this targeted call. Agriculture is critical to Alberta’s economy, and funding agriculture research will help the industry compete on a global scale. RDAR is currently still making funding decisions on the additional funding allocated to this targeted call.
“This is an exciting milestone, not just for RDAR, but also for farmer-led research in Alberta. In less than a year since its incorporation, RDAR has taken one more step toward transforming agriculture research. The impact of this research will be felt in the industry for years to come, making our farms and ranches more competitive and profitable.”
Alberta Minister of Agriculture, Devin Dreeshen
At RDAR we live and breathe collaboration, with RDAR’s Members directing priorities and programs to lead the way. Each research proposal was reviewed and assessed by industry peers then evaluated for alignment with RDAR’s producer-led research priorities.
This targeted call solidifies our commitment to partnership and transparent producer-led research. RDAR launched its inaugural call for producer-led agriculture research proposals to invest in big ideas that will help push Alberta’s boundaries of agriculture potential.
RDAR identified these four targeted priorities for its first research call:
- Soil Health and Quality
- Water Quality and Efficiency
- Feed Production
- Plant and Animal Diseases and Pests
2021 is gearing up to be an exciting year for ag research in Alberta. RDAR is excited to have reached this milestone in our research funding journey, and we look forward to sharing updates on these producer-led projects and programs shortly on rdar.ca.
Stay Informed. Be in the know about Alberta ag research. Follow us on Twitter @RDARAlberta, LinkedIn and sign up for our spring e-newsletter at rdar.ca.
For any research or funding questions, please e-mail research@rdar.ca
About RDAR
RDAR is a not-for-profit organization that will continually consult with Alberta’s crop and livestock producers to set research priorities and distribute funds. Its mandate is: to support results driven agriculture research priorities and programs that will increase competitiveness and profitability of Alberta’s agriculture industry. Arm’s length from the provincial government, RDAR is funded by two sources: The Government of Alberta, and the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Related Information
Canadian Agricultural Partnership
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry