Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) has invested $2.4 million in three Accelerating Agriculture Innovation genomics projects which target Climate SMART Agriculture and Food Systems initiatives, an Oct. 5 news release said.
“I recently had the opportunity to meet with producers in Alberta who have adopted rotational grazing practices and saw the benefits delivered by our climate initiatives,” Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, said in the release. “The projects announced today will accelerate our understanding of how combined genomics and grazing management practices can influence soil and livestock genomes, driving rangeland ecosystems for carbon sequestration and lower GHG emissions.”
The release noted genomics development accelerates the understanding of and directs the use of molecular biology tools to help producers reduce environmental impacts, increase resilience, and improve disease prevention in livestock and crops.
“RDAR is committed to advancing agriculture through genomics, and we foresee the projects announced today accelerating the adaptation of crops to climate change and the drive to sustainable livestock production,” Mark Redmond, RDAR CEO, said in the release. “This work is essential as Alberta agriculture responds to climate change, builds a more resilient industry, serves new, environmentally conscious high-value markets, and returns greater profits to producers.”
Outcomes from these genomic research projects will help producers access and adopt new solutions for improving grazing management, soil carbon sequestration, and climate resiliency, the release said.
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