b'A look at seed industry developments around the globe.MOU signed to advanceSTATUS AFRICA fer efforts towards gettingment over three years and African agriculture andThe African Agriculturalinnovations and products thatthe Sustainable Canadian Canadian governmentsTechnology Foundationmake a difference to peoplesAgricultural Partnership (AATF) and the Africanlives into farmers hands for(Sustainable CAP) is provid-investing in prairie cropsUnion Commission (AUC)a food and nutrition secureing $500,000 to create a and soil research. have signed a three- Africa. He pointed out thatnew state-of-the-art 20,000 year Memorandum ofAATFs new Strategic Plansquare foot facility that meets Understanding to raise agri- 2023-2027 builds on gainsthe future needs of Canadian cultural productivity in Africarealised over the last twofarmers and industry.through research, technologydecades with a clear road- The total budget for the development, and uptakemap on scaling technologicalPCSRF is $20.7 million, includ-by farmers. The partner- interventions for impact. Ouring investments from agricul-ship agreement will facilitateroadmap towards deliverytural industry organizations. deployment of agriculturalof agricultural technologiesThe new facility is set to be technologies to address farmduring the next five years willoperational by June 2026.productivity constraints facednot only contribute to foodThe PCSRF will meet by smallholder farmers inand nutrition security in Africathe emerging needs of our African such as the impact ofbut will also engender agricul- food system that Canadian climate change and infestationtural transformation and resil- farmers and the industry of pests and diseases. ient food systems in line withcan innovate in a wide range According to Herthe aspirations of the Africaof areas including nutri-Excellency Amb. JosefaUnion (AU) Agenda 2063. Heent management, cropping Sacko, the Commissionerstated that AATF will continuesystems, digital agronomy, for Agriculture, Ruralconvening strategic dialoguesand breeding. This initiative Development, Blue Economyon agricultural technology inwas developed through a and Sustainable Environment,Africa, bringing various voicesmulti-year consultation with the agreement with AATFto weigh in on the contribu- agronomists, entomologists, is a sign of commitment totion of science, technology,pathologists, plant breed-drive collective action, coor- and innovation to agriculturalers, geneticists, soil scientists dinated efforts, enhanceddevelopment. and other stakeholders in the collaboration, cooperation,industry. The current facility and synergies, that lead toat the Faculty of Agricultural the realization of the commonSTATUS CANADA and Food Sciences at the goals and shared aspirationsThe governments of CanadaUofM is nearing the end of its of Agenda 2063: the Africanand Manitoba are investinglifespan, and this new facility we want. up to $6.4 million to establishwill expand and modernize Dr. Canisius Kanangire, thethe Prairie Crops and Soilsagronomic research and train-Executive Director of AATF,Research Facility (PCSRF) ating. The PCSRF will improve noted that the partnershipthe Fort Garry campus of thethe quantity, quality, and effi-agreement with AUC willUniversity of Manitoba (UofM),ciency of seed, soil, and plant strengthen efforts towardsfederal Agriculture and Agri- sample processing, analysis, raising agricultural productiv- Food Minister Marie-Claudeand archiving, and will inte-ity aimed at improving liveli- Bibeau, Manitoba Advancedgrate soil, crop, entomology, hoods of smallholder farmers. Education and Traininglivestock, and engineering Given the remarkableMinister Sarah Guillemard andresearch for creative sustain-results achieved under theManitoba Agriculture Ministerable crop production solu-previous collaboration agree- Derek Johnson announced. tions. SWment between our organi- Manitoba Advanced sations, this renewal of ourEducation and Training is partnership with the AUC willproviding funding of up to accelerate technology trans- $5.9 million in capital invest-68/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2023'