Viterra Partners with the Global Institute for Food Security
SASKATOON - The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) and Viterra Inc. announced today that Viterra is investing $2 million to support the Institute's mission to address the increasing global demand for safe, reliable food.
By Jennifer Thoma
The five-year funding agreement will make Viterra the lead grain industry partner joining founding partners PotashCorp, the Province of Saskatchewan, and the University of Saskatchewan.
"Viterra is proud to take a leadership role by making this significant investment in the future prosperity of our farm customers and the sustainability of western Canadian agriculture," said Kyle Jeworski, Viterra's president and CEO for North America. "Enhanced yield and agronomic improvements for the major crops grown in western Canada are among the benefits we see resulting from our investment in this historic initiative. It will also contribute to a vibrant economy in the province and the University of Saskatchewan as a centre of excellence in plant science research."
"We greatly appreciate and thank Viterra for its significant funding commitment," Roger Beachy, founding executive director and CEO for the institute stated. "The GIFS is focused on global food solutions. With the world's population increasing at a rate of approximately 200,000 people per day, or 70 million per year, the Institute will address the growing global demand for safe, reliable food and sustainable crop production through sponsorship of pre-eminent agriculture research and leading innovation. The 'bioscience cluster' of industry, business and academia in Saskatchewan related to agriculture and food production is one of the strongest of its type in North America and its support is important to GIFS' success. Leading companies and partners such as Viterra whose enterprises foster and depend on agriculture and food are helping make the institute viable and successful in this mission."
As part of the agreement, Viterra will also provide the Institute with land adjacent to its rural facilities, and through its strong customer relationships, identify farmer participants for GIFS' research field trials. Demonstration sites are integral to the success of research initiatives supporting GIFS' agronomic research going forward.
Peter Flengeris
Communications Consultant
Viterra Inc.
306-569-4810
peter.flengeris@viterra.com
Betty Anne Stevenson
Director, Communications and Marketing
Global Institute for Food Security
306-966-3704
ba.stevenson@usask.ca
"Viterra is proud to take a leadership role by making this significant investment in the future prosperity of our farm customers and the sustainability of western Canadian agriculture," said Kyle Jeworski, Viterra's president and CEO for North America. "Enhanced yield and agronomic improvements for the major crops grown in western Canada are among the benefits we see resulting from our investment in this historic initiative. It will also contribute to a vibrant economy in the province and the University of Saskatchewan as a centre of excellence in plant science research."
"We greatly appreciate and thank Viterra for its significant funding commitment," Roger Beachy, founding executive director and CEO for the institute stated. "The GIFS is focused on global food solutions. With the world's population increasing at a rate of approximately 200,000 people per day, or 70 million per year, the Institute will address the growing global demand for safe, reliable food and sustainable crop production through sponsorship of pre-eminent agriculture research and leading innovation. The 'bioscience cluster' of industry, business and academia in Saskatchewan related to agriculture and food production is one of the strongest of its type in North America and its support is important to GIFS' success. Leading companies and partners such as Viterra whose enterprises foster and depend on agriculture and food are helping make the institute viable and successful in this mission."
As part of the agreement, Viterra will also provide the Institute with land adjacent to its rural facilities, and through its strong customer relationships, identify farmer participants for GIFS' research field trials. Demonstration sites are integral to the success of research initiatives supporting GIFS' agronomic research going forward.
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Peter Flengeris
Communications Consultant
Viterra Inc.
306-569-4810
peter.flengeris@viterra.com
Betty Anne Stevenson
Director, Communications and Marketing
Global Institute for Food Security
306-966-3704
ba.stevenson@usask.ca