Strategic Research Programs (SRP)

The federal and provincial governments have committed to provide funding for the salaries and benefits of the Strategic Research Program (SRP) chairs for a five-year period. This commitment assures stable funding to facilitate the recruitment and retention of the best research personnel. The chairs are responsible for attracting project funding from programs offered by public and private sectors to support their respective research program.

To provide focus, the ministry has developed a program framework for each chair to define the area of research and key deliverables. Based on the program framework, the ministry and each chair create a five-year research plan. The five-year research plan is used to identify and highlight research activities that will be undertaken in each year of the contract. Each chair provides an annual report for review by a program management team with representation from the ministry and the research institution where the position is housed.

Crop Genetic Improvement

• Durum and High-Yield Wheat Breeding and Genetics – Dr. Curtis Pozniak
• CWRS Wheat, Specialty Wheats and Canaryseed Breeding and Genetics – Dr. Adam Carter
• Cereal and Flax Crop Pathology – Dr. Randy Kutcher
• Barley and Oat Breeding and Genetics – Dr. Aaron Beattie
• Chickpea, Flax, Caraway and Coriander Breeding and Genetics – Dr. Bunyamin Tar'an
• Field Pea Breeding and Genetics – Dr. Tom Warkentin
• Pulse Crop Pathology – Dr. Sabine Banniza

Livestock Development

• Forage Crops Breeding – Dr. Bill Biligetu
• Feed Research and Development – Dr. Peiqiang Yu
• Cow-Calf and Forage Systems – Dr. Bart Lardner
• Extension Economist – Kathy Larson

Food and Bioproducts Development

• Lipid Quality and Utilization – Dr. Martin Reaney
• Protein Quality and Utilization – Dr. Michael Nickerson

Soils and Environment

• Soil Biological Processes – Dr. Diane Knight and Dr. Richard Farrell (shared)
• Soil Nutrient Management – Dr. Jeff Schoenau