By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday December 21, 2021

Dec 21, 2021 | 4:11 PM

MELFORT, Sask. — The federal government will spend $28 million to help Prince Edward Island farmers manage their growing surplus of potatoes as an almost month-long export ban to the United States continues.

Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told a news conference the funding will be used to create more potato processing capacity in Canada and to ship some of the surplus to food aid organizations.

The money will also go toward helping farmers seek out new markets and allowing them to safely destroy their excess potatoes this winter.

The United States potato market is worth about $120 million a year to P.E.I. Bibeau said a significant quantity of potatoes will need to be destroyed, but she did not specify an exact amount.

Farmers on the island have been barred from exporting potatoes to the U.S. since Nov. 22 after fungal potato wart was discovered on two fields in the province.

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Dr. Steven Webb is staying on in his leadership role as chief executive officer of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

The update, provided by GIFS’ board of directors, followed an October announcement of Webb’s resignation for family reasons.

GIFS’ Board of Directors chair Alanna Koch said the board has been able to provide some flexibility which will allow Webb to remain in his current role.

“One thing we’ve learned during the COVID-19 pandemic is that family is important, and like many organizations across the globe, we have explored alternative work arrangements to help GIFS keep the momentum it has gained over the past two years,” Koch said.

Webb joined GIFS in July 2019, following a successful career leading research and development in the agriculture industry.

After a short period of personal leave, Webb will return to GIFS in February 2022 to continue in his role as executive director and chief executive officer.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW