Research snapshots shed light on the Diverse Field Crops Cluster research activities

A unique alliance has given seven high-potential prairie crops some much-deserved research attention. The Diverse Field Crops Cluster (DFCC) supports the research and development of camelina, canary seed, flax, hemp, mustard, quinoa, and sunflower.

DFCC activities focus on agronomy, variety development, and value-add initiatives. A new series of ‘research snapshots’ describe the 16 different activities at the half-way mark in the five-year program. DFCC is managed by Ag-West Bio with funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Partnership Program and industry partners.

Karen Churchill, president and CEO of Ag-West Bio says Ag-West Bio is pleased to provide support to DFCC. “This is an important program that aligns industry and researchers and opens new opportunities for producers.” 

DFCC Project Manager Carol Ann Patterson says the snapshots illustrate the hard work of researchers, cluster members and industry partners. “The articles shed light on the research behind innovative and unique Canadian crops.”

The crops are represented by Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, Canary Seed Development Commission of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, Smart Earth Camelina Corporation, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Mustard 21 Canada Inc, and Northern Quinoa Production Corporation.

For more information and to read the research snapshots visit the Diverse Field Crops Cluster website.

Articles

Camelina

Camelina for companion animals: canine and equine oil supplements

Cultivating camelina’s unique traits provides more opportunities to prairie producers

Canary Seed

Watch for canary seed (alpiste) as a new food ingredient

Flax

Developing new flax varieties to meet the needs of industry

Researchers work to improve disease resistance in flax

Researchers take proactive approach to flax quality

Hemp

GxE: Learning how agronomic conditions affect the hemp industry in Canada

Heavy metals: understanding hemp’s affinity for cadmium 

A hemp meal for dairy cows

Mustard

Better yields with condiment mustard hybrids

A crop with big potential: Brassica carinata

Herbicide-tolerant mustard gives farmers more opportunity and flexibility in the field

Adding mustard to the mix: Researchers look at adding special crops to conventional crop rotation systems.

Beyond the hotdog: innovative uses of yellow mustard

Quinoa

Quinoa: It’s a Canadian thing!

Sunflower

A budding opportunity: sunflower variety development benefits Canadian value-chains