Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
September 10, 2014

Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced today an investment of $182,500 to La Coop fédérée for research and development to improve soybean quality.

This investment from Agriculture Canada's AgriInnovation Program will enable La Coop fédérée to enhance soybean breeding and seed quality, and provide Canadian farmers and food processors with new varieties better suited to their needs. The results will help soybean growers to better compete in domestic and international markets and increase their profitability through higher yields.

Quick Facts

• La Coop fédérée is the largest agri-food network in Quebec with more than 100,000 members in 102 co-operatives, and facilities in six provinces – Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
• La Coop fédérée is present throughout the agri-food chain and, as a wholesaler, provides agricultural producers with the goods and services they need to run their businesses including energy, hardware and agricultural machinery products.
• Scientists from AAFC's Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre in Harrow, ON, are working with the soybean sector to yield more generic type soybeans and meet the market demand for adequate processing quality at lower cost.
• The AgriInnovation Program is a five-year, up to $698 million initiative under the Growing Forward 2 policy framework, and is designed to accelerate the pace of innovation by supporting research and development activities in the agriculture sector.

Quotes

"The soybean sector is an important part of our growing economy. Investing in research to improve soybean versatility will boost competitiveness and create new market opportunities for farmers, food processors and exporters in the regions of Quebec and across Canada."

Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux

"La Coop fédérée welcomes this news and is grateful to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for agreeing to fund its research project for a period of four years. The Coop fédérée's seven year project is receiving a very generous boost, as well as seeing its likelihood of success rise significantly."

Gaétan Desroches, Chief Executive Officer
La Coop fédérée

Associated Links

• Growing Forward 2 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
• AgriInnovation Program - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
• AAFC's Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre

Website: http://www.agr.gc.ca

Published: September 10, 2014