Alberta’s potato industry has received a $1 million investment in the University of Lethbridge by a consortium of association and industry partners.
The university will receive the funds over five years from the Potato Growers of Alberta, McCain Foods, ConAgra Lamb Weston and Cavendish Farms to establish a chair in potato science.
The announcement was made today at a special event at Perry Produce near Chin, Alta.
“Growers and processors identified a need to expand research in this critical field,” said Terence Hochstein, the PGA’s executive director, said in a news release.
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“There are only a handful of researchers dedicated to the discipline throughout Western Canada and we expect this new Chair will greatly enhance and complement the current capacity that exists.”
As well as the chair position, the University will be seeking a researcher who is able to collaborate with producers and industry partners.
In addition to building research capabilities, Hochstein hopes that U of L graduate and undergraduate students benefit from the Chair and that future capacity is created for the industry.
“One of the consortium’s long-term aspirations is that through student-research activities and related interactions, more agriculturally-focused students will consider a career in the potato industry,” Hochstein said in a news release.
