Research Overview
Supporting research is at the core of what we do – it creates a more sustainable, profitable future for everyone in Saskatchewan.
Introduction
Our research program is all about building relationships – we seek out partnerships with those who are working on initiatives that can create value for Saskatchewan wheat producers. We fund projects in a wide variety of areas, from increasing yield and grain quality to reducing environmental impact.
It doesn’t stop there – we also share the results of research that we fund, creating a community of scientists, producers and other major players that are all working for a better tomorrow.
Priority Areas
While we consider projects in any area that will add significant value for our producers, we’ve identified three key areas of focus:
Varietal Development
Genetics/’omics’ includes such things as pre-breeding (germplasm, precision breeding, high throughput phenotyping and genotyping, genomic selection and tools for improving breeding efficiency) to help researchers breed for yield, biotic stress (fusarium head blight, rust, ergot), abiotic/physiological stress (drought, water use efficiency, cold tolerance, root system and lodging), improved yield and for testing/trialing.
Production
Agronomy includes such things as crop fertility, nutrient use efficiency, soil health, the soil microbiome, crop rotations management, crop management (including genetics and environment management), reduced input costs and economic analysis. Also included in agronomy is integrated pest management (disease, weeds, insects, biological control and investment into innovative technologies), fungicide resistance management, management strategies for herbicide resistance and harvest management.
Post-Production
This includes crop storage, end-use (crop quality, processing and utilization), grain safety, economic and regulatory analysis, and value-added initiatives.
Proposals & Review Process
Sask Wheat participates in a variety of different calls for funding, both provincial and national. If you have a research proposal that you feel aligns with Sask Wheat’s strategic priorities and would benefit Saskatchewan wheat producers, please contact Sask Wheat’s Research Program Manager for more information.
Interested researchers must submit a “Letter of Interest” (LOI) to our Research Program Manager.
Your LOI should include:
- Title
- Information of the principal investigator as well as any co-investigators or collaborators
- The estimated start and end dates of your project
- Budget information (amount of funding requested, contributions from other sources, etc.)
- The benefits your project would create for the wheat industry and other context
- Your objectives
- A description and methodology of your research
- Your expected outcomes
Your LOI will be reviewed by our Research Program Manager and our Research Committee to see if it meets our program criteria and objectives.
If your project meets the program criteria and objectives, you will be invited to submit a full, detailed research proposal. This proposal will again be reviewed by the Research Program Manager and Research Committee. Industry experts may be called upon to act as external technical reviewers where appropriate.
Your project will then go to the Board of Directors, who ensure that wheat producers’ best interests are represented before making the final decision to grant funding.
ADOPT is a funding program run by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, co-funded by Sask Wheat.
The ADOPT Program provides funding to help producers and First Nations communities demonstrate and evaluate new agricultural practices and technologies at the local level. These projects are often showcased at local AgriARM field days, as well as winter meetings with Sask Wheat.
