Alberta oil seed and livestock R&D receives $4.5 million

Two agricultural research centres at the Univ of Alberta will receive $4.5 million over two years from Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions to produce new oil and livestock products. Phytola will use biotechnological processes to develop new strategies for improving the quantity and quality of oil in oilseed plants such as canola and flax for nutraceutical and industrial applications. The research will build on development made through the AVAC-funded Bioactive Oils Program and will be led by U of A professor Dr Randall Weselake. Livestock Gentec will use DNA sequencing to help breeders make more targeted improvements to farmed animals such as cattle, swine and other domestic species. Livestock scientists were key participants in the first-ever sequencing of the bovine genome. The current project is led by Dr Steve Moore and an additional $1.15 million in funding is being provided by the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency….