The Prairie Crops and Soils Research Facility (PCSRF) will be established at the Fort Garry campus of the University of Manitoba following a funding announcement from the federal and provincial governments, a July 25 news release said. The new state-of-the-art 20,000-sq.-ft. facility will find solutions to critical questions about food supply.
“This facility promotes industry-government-academia collaboration that positions Manitoba as a national leader in agricultural research, innovation and education,” Sarah Guillemard, Manitoba advanced education and training minister, said in the release. “The PCSRF will provide incredible training and research opportunities for students in the agricultural field, helping them gain valuable experience in a sector that is continuously advancing.”
Manitoba Advanced Education and Training will provide up to $5.9 million in capital investment over three years for it, while the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership will provide up to $500,000, the release said. The total budget for the PCSRF is $20.7 million, including investments from agricultural industry organizations.
“This is a significant investment that will greatly enhance our capacity for research, education programs, and collaborations with producers for more sustainable crop production,” Martin Scanlon, dean, faculty of agricultural and food sciences at the U of M, said in the release. “The PCSRF sets the stage for our researchers to develop an integrated approach to robust agronomic systems that will benefit Western Canadian producers and consumers across Canada for years to come.”
The current facility at the U of M is nearing the end of its lifespan, and this new facility will expand and modernize agronomic research and training, the release said. The PCSRF will improve the quantity, quality, and efficiency of seed, soil, and plant sample processing, analysis and archiving, and will integrate of soil, crop, entomology, livestock, and engineering research for creative sustainable crop production solutions.
It is set to be operational by June 2026.
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