Deadline for letter of intent for CFCRA science cluster research partner upcoming

GUELPH, ON (October 22, 2012) – Grain Farmers of Ontario, as a member of the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA), is encouraging submissions of a Letter of Intent from researchers across Canada to participate in a Science Cluster as a research partner.

Targeted for the recently announced 5 year policy framework Growing Forward II that will begin in March 2013, this Cluster proposal will advance breeding in six key Canadian field crops: Canada-wide soybean and grain corn, and eastern Canadian winter wheat, spring wheat, oat and barley.

“This cluster is an opportunity for GFO to pursue a continued funding partnership with Ag Canada that will advance crop genetics through breeding and variety development,” says Crosby Devitt, Research Manager with Grain Farmers of Ontario.  “It is important for our members that we continue to support the development of public breeding programs because they add significant value to our industry.”

In preparation for a Science Cluster in the next generation of research funding under the GFII framework, CFCRA is requesting Letters of Intent from researchers to gauge the interest and identify strategic research projects. Projects should have the goal of commercialized genetics through public varieties for farmers in Canada.

To submit a Letter of Intent, researchers can contact Josh Cowan at joshcowan@gfo.ca or 519 767-4129 to receive the application package. The deadline for submissions of Letters of Intent is October 31, 2012. 

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.

Contact:

Barry Senft, CEO – 1-800-265-0550; bsenft@gfo.ca