Research Programs

Research Priorities

Alberta Canola funds research according to
the following research priorities:

1. Find the best way to grow canola

  • Integrated cropping systems
  • Efficient use of inputs
  • Production practices
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Germplasm development
  • Economic & production risk

2. Find solutions to pest management

  • Research pest biology & control methods
  • Pest monitoring systems
  • Germplasm development

3. Increase the demand for canola

  • Human health & nutrition
  • Animal health & nutrition
  • Bio-industrial uses

Funding Programs

We fund canola research through multiple different funding streams.

Canola Agronomic Research Program (CARP)
Alberta Canola is one of three provincial canola grower organizations that fund this program administers by the Canola Council of Canada.
For more information, see the Canola Council of Canada Website.

Agricultural Funding Consortium (AFC)
Alberta Canola funds research alongside several other organizations through AFC, which prioritizes targeting food, agriculture, and agri-food research gaps to support growers in Western Canada. For more information, see the AFC Website.

On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)
OFCAF is run by RDAR (Results Driven Agricultural Research). See OFCAF webpage here.

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)
This is a 5-year federal program, currently running from April 2023-March 2028. See the SCAP webpage here.

Canola 4R Advantage Program (C4RA)
This program is run by the Canola Council of Canada. Visit the Canola 4R program website for more information.

Mentorship Programs (unavailable for 2023/24)

Our Researcher Mentorship Program connects researchers with crop farmers, to provide researchers with an opportunity to develop their understanding of commercial barely, canola, pulse, and wheat production systems. This heightens the relevance of grower-funded research projects for on-farm adoption.

The Researcher Mentorship Program has included events in the past such as a Reverse Agronomy Update, in which researchers can attend to learn from a panel of farmer, One-on-One in which researchers are matched with a farmer in their area for hands-on learning, and field tours.