By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday January 25, 2022

Jan 25, 2022 | 10:03 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – The Alberta and Saskatchewan governments are funding research into the development of an oral vaccine for chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Alberta Environment and Parks is partnering with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment and the Alberta Conservation Association on a project led by researchers from four universities in Western Canada.

The project will examine five potential antigens and two different oral delivery platforms to help prevent the spread of CWD.

Environment and Parks is providing $381,000 over two years to support CWD vaccine and management research at the University of Calgary and University of Alberta.

The Alberta Conservation Association is giving $500,000 over five years through their research fund and Saskatchewan is committing $400,000 over five years through their Fish and Wildlife Development Fund.

winter sport

Canadian Challenge announces full slate of mushers

54m ago

cracking into ahl roster

Former Raider Stanick hopes to start pro career in Henderson

58m ago

Ignite Your Community's Health: Transformative Strategies for Advocacy

5h ago

Saskatchewan Environment Minister Warren Kaeding said the shared funding agreement has the potential to yield an effective tool to protect the cervid populations across the Prairies.

“A vaccine could assist in reducing challenges faced with premature fatalities in the animals as well as offering a reduction in transmission across more than just our two provinces,” Kaeding said.

CWD is a prion disease affecting the cervid population which includes deer, elk, moose and caribou.

Without being treated or managed, CWD reduces overall populations of deer, is always fatal to infected animals, and results in prions contaminating the environment over long periods.

–

Canada’s largest farm organization has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bioenterprise Canada to collaborate on agri-food innovation.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) President Mary Robinson said working with Bioenterprise Canada will build closer connections to the Canadian innovation sector keeping farmers better informed about emerging technologies and opportunities.

“CFA looks forward to ensuring farmers have a strong voice in driving agricultural innovation and ensuring Canada has an environment conducive to the adoption of new practices and technologies,” she said.

Bioenterprise has a national and international network of research institutions, academia, mentors and experts, government, and industry that helps to grow small and medium-sized businesses.

Bioenterprise Canada CEO Dave Smardon said farmers have a true understanding of the innovation needed on the ground.

“We welcome the opportunity to work more closely with the primary production sector so we can support and advance the new technologies and opportunities that will best serve the industry’s short and long-term success,” Smardon said.

–

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW