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Canada Shuts Down 7 Agri-Research Centers
27 Jan
Summary
- Seven federal agriculture research operations are closing nationwide.
- Two satellite farms in Saskatchewan will cease operations.
- About 665 federal agriculture positions are being reduced.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is shuttering seven research facilities nationwide as part of a federal budget reduction plan. These closures will lead to approximately 665 job reductions and impact nearly 1,050 employees who received notices recently. Among the affected sites are two satellite research farms in Saskatchewan, crucial for enhancing crop yields on the prairies. The farm in Indian Head, with a 140-year history, faces closure within four to six months, potentially displacing around 30 full-time employees. Other research centers closing include facilities in Nappan, Nova Scotia; Portage la Prairie, Manitoba; Guelph, Ontario; Quebec City, Quebec; and Lacombe, Alberta. AAFC asserts that it will maintain its status as Canada's largest agricultural research organization, operating 17 centers and research farmland across the country. Experts emphasize the importance of sustained agricultural research for maintaining the competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian farms, urging that knowledge creation must continue.
