Harper Government Announces $43,000 Investment for Canola Sector

Sep 18, 2012

Minister Ritz Gives Canadian Canola Sector a Boost

Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced $43,000 in funding for the Canola Council of Canada to invest in research and a long-term strategic plan to continue to bolster profits for canola farmers. "Research and innovation are key in the success of the Canadian canola sector," said Minister Ritz. The industry will utilize the investment dollars to focus on improving canola germplasm and the development of new varieties. Canada’s canola industry contributes $15.4 billion to the economy and generated more than 228,000 jobs. Canola is also Canada’s number –one generator in farm cash receipts totalling $5.6 billion annually.

To date, the industry has been successful in oil nutrition research, mean research and production research. The investment is not only good for canola farmers but will benefit the economy as a whole. The investment was made possible through the Agriculture Innovation Program (AIP) that seeks to equip the agriculture community with the tools necessary to access cutting-edge technology.

Video: Seaweed-Based Solutions: Building Natural Performance in Modern Swine Production

In today’s pork industry, producers are under increasing pressure to do more with fewer inputs—while maintaining performance, improving animal health, and meeting sustainability expectations.

we sit down with Sylvain David and Scott Preston from Olmix to explore how seaweed-based solutions are emerging as a foundational tool in modern swine nutrition.

Rather than acting as simple alternatives, these solutions are designed to support gut health, immune resilience, and overall system consistency—especially during key stress periods like weaning, feed transitions, and disease challenges.

The conversation dives into:

• What seaweed-based solutions actually are and how they work

• Why consistency and standardization matter in “natural” products

• How gut health connects to immune function and performance

• Where producers are seeing real-world impact today

• The role of natural solutions in the future of sustainable pork production