Saskatchewan is to be home to the new Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS)
The province of Saskatchewan and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. are investing $50 million in the new Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) based out of the University of Saskatchewan.
With an initial investment of up to $35 million from Potash-Corp and $15 million from the province over the next seven years, the new institute will make use of Saskatchewan’s agricultural resources, innovation and expertise to address the ever-increasing global demand for safe, reliable food.
“The plan for growth positions Saskatchewan as a global leader in food security and innovation by 2020,” said Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. “Advancing Saskatchewan’s agricultural advantage allows us to significantly increase the global food supply – our moral obligation as a good global citizen – while building the next economy, an innovation economy, here at home.”
As the world’s population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050, global food production will need to increase by an estimated 70 per cent to match the increasing demand. Along with increasing production, the system will also need to change to effectively provide safer, more nutritional food to consumers.
“Food security remains our biggest challenge as populations increase and diets change, putting immense strain on food production,” said Bill Doyle, president and CEO of PotashCorp. “We need to help farmers around the world produce more food, ensure it’s safe and nutritious, and get it efficiently to those who need it. As the world’s largest producer of crop nutrients, supporting food production is a mandate for our company and we believe this institute can play an important role in improving global food security.”
Bill Doyle, President and CEO PotashCorp
PotashCorp’s donation is one of the largest corporate donations for university research in Canada. Its recipient, the new food security centre, will build on Saskatchewan’s strength in crop production systems through investments in technological, economic, nutritional and environmental improvements to the food supply system, at home and abroad.
The institute will also look at new approaches to the food supply system including: breeding for higher yield; improved nutrition and processing traits; examining how soil quality affects the nutritional value of crops; and adapting prairie zone crops to available soil and water.
To do this, the new centre will examine crops grown in Saskatchewan, as well as in other areas of the world, such as wheat, lentils, peas and canola. These are essential food sources for a large portion of the world’s population. The institute will work to develop transferable solutions that can be applied to regions and partnerships around the world.
Research from the new institute will also impact the policy agenda for food security, so that changes can take place to improve how the various parts of the food system interact.
The University of Saskatchewan is proud to be home to the institute: “Over the past century, the University of Saskatchewan has led far-sighted research and innovation to help grow a province and feed a growing nation. Now, through this innovative partnership and its bold vision, we will build on our strengths and provide new research solutions across the food supply system to help feed a growing world,” said Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac, president, University of Saskatchewan.
“This collaborative institute will create unique opportunities for cutting-edge science and policy research that will attract top faculty and students and put Saskatchewan on the global map for food security research.”
