Grant: CCI Mobilize Grants

Mobilize funding will enable Lakeland College to expand applied research capacity to continue to advance productivity, efficiency and sustainability in key commercial crop and livestock species in Alberta, and develop practical solutions to challenges facing the agricultural industry. The livestock and crop sectors are major economic drivers, contributing over $6 billion to the Alberta GDP. This proposal will assist in achieving Lakeland’s Applied Crop and Livestock Research Program Goals and Strategies which are aligned with provincial and federal targets for food and agriculture. The proposal will help Lakeland address the significant industry demand for crop and livestock applied research and technology services in Alberta and beyond. Increasing crop and livestock yield, quality, and productivity through innovative technologies and best management practices while responsibly managing natural resources is key to meeting the world’s growing food demands. A comprehensive outreach and connection plan will be implemented to further expand Lakeland’s extensive research partner network which includes over 50 industry and producer partners; more than a dozen industry support organizations, producer associations and commissions, and other not-for-profit agricultural research partners; 12 post-secondary institutions in six provinces; and federal, provincial and regional non-governmental research support organizations. Livestock research will be conducted under four themes: (1) Animal health, welfare and wellness; (2) Forage, grazing and feeding systems; (3) Precision livestock farming; and (4) Improving livestock production efficiency and sustainability. Crop research themes are: (1) Monitoring microclimates and disease forecasting; (2) Pest and disease management and surveillance; (3) Agronomics, environmental sustainability, and best management practices; (4) High yielding and competitive varieties. This proposal will enable Lakeland to maintain highly productive livestock and crops research support personnel and scientists to lead projects of all sizes and act on emerging opportunities. It will give our partners the consistent access to the talent, innovative facilities and expertise they need, encourage longer-term collaborations, and enable long-range planning for student engagement in applied research.