Three Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF) research programs have been transferred to the University of Lethbridge, the province says in a news release on Oct. 15.
“The University of Lethbridge is closely connected to southern Alberta’s agriculture activities through its research, teaching and outreach activities,” Mike Mahon, president of the University of Lethbridge, says in the release. “The addition of these three research programs will further our agriculture research capacity on campus, and allow the university to enhance its already close connectivity to this critical industry in the years ahead.”
In July, Alberta’s government and the University of Lethbridge signed a $1.8-million agreement, which saw three programs transferred to the university and provided it with the financial capacity to recruit three researchers, the release says.
The research programs which were moved are apiculture and pollination, specialty crops and irrigation research, and vegetable irrigation and potato production. The three researchers who have joined the university are Shelley Hoover for apiculture and pollination, Michele Konschuh for irrigated crops and Kim Stanford for livestock pathogens.
This agreement is part of the Alberta government’s agriculture research transition, which has included starting Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR). Over the long term, RDAR will assume ongoing responsibility for the funding agreement with Lethbridge College, the release notes.
