In a major new initiative, a partnership between industry and government will support potato physiology research at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. The announcement was made today by NSAC Principal Dr. Garth Coffin.
Initial funding from McCain Foods Limited of $90,000 has been matched jointly by the Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing to establish a research position in potato physiology and production issues at the College.
The program will involve the hiring of a research professor in potato physiology for three years. The professor will also train and supervise the research of graduate students at the College as future scientists to support the continued development of the potato industry in the region.
"McCain Foods Limited is pleased to be the catalyst in establishing this position to conduct much needed research such as controlling the long-standing problems of tuber or potato size variability," said Dr. Donald Young of McCain Foods Limited. "The results of this research should be beneficial to the entire industry, from producers to consumers, in projects like increasing the yield of marketable product while reducing the volume of waste associated with processing."
Honourable Eric Hammill, minister of the Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture and Forestry, described the arrangement as one which will also help support the training of graduate students who will be needed by the industry in the years to come.
Nova Scotia's Agriculture and Marketing minister Ed Lorraine welcomed the partnership. "This is a unique venture. It is an historic agreement and an excellent example of governments working together in support of a project of interest to the entire region."
"This initiative fits very nicely with our development strategy as we build our research and graduate studies capacity in areas of interest to agriculture in the Atlantic region," said Dr. Coffin. "We are very excited to be part of this multi-dimensional partnership."
The potato physiologist will be appointed to the position by the end of March, 1998 enabling the research program to begin during this crop year.
For more information contact: Wayne MacKinnon at 368-4888