The ceremony was emceed by the University of Saskatchewan’s Dean Mary Buhr, and attended by provincial and local government officials, university ambassadors, media and Cargill representatives.

The CFRC is a Canada Foundation for Innovation-funded research facility that will research, develop and commercialise new and better high-value animal feeds from low-value crops and co-products from bioprocessing and biofuels industries.

“The University of Saskatchewan’s new CFRC provides an important resource that offers a broad range of research scale capabilities – from laboratory, to pilot plant, to industry-scale research – which is a major advantage in attracting commercialisation and enhancing the competitiveness of our customers,” said Jennifer Henderson, Managing Director of Cargill Animal Nutrition’s compound feed business in Western Canada.

“The University and Cargill have a longstanding partnership around common goals such as investment in research, the development of youth, and community investment. We are proud to be associated with the University and look forward to the capabilities the Center will offer the animal feed industry and producers.”

The 15,650-square-feet of renovated Innovation Center space will employ four to eight research and development professionals that have more than 100-years of experience combined. Both graduate and undergraduate students will participate in research and gain advanced training for careers in the feed and livestock sectors. The Center is the first of its kind in North America to install new seed-sorting technology that promises to maximize value, quality and safety.

Research at the CFRC is expected to increase processing of crops for animal feed. It is estimated that this increased processing could contribute more than $2 million to GDP through direct benefits to the crop and livestock industry and indirect benefits via employment.

The innovation center will also work closely with several other industry partners such as premix, additive and equipment suppliers, commodity groups, feed mills and livestock organisations. Funding sources are primarily a mixture of industry and government support.

“Feed accounts for 60 to 70 per cent of the production costs of animal protein such as meat, milk and eggs,” said Tom Scott, University of Saskatchewan research chair in feed processing technology. “The Center will use processing and feed additives to improve conversion of low-quality and highly variable ingredients, such as feed grain or co-products of bioprocessing, ultimately resulting in safe, high-quality human food consistently and sustainably.”

Cargill employs more than 530 people in 28 locations in the province. In the past five years, Cargill’s capital investments in Saskatchewan exceeded $116 million. In addition to special contributions such as this one to the University of Saskatchewan, the company’s Cargill Cares Council donates annually to organisations throughout the province that focus on food security and nutrition, education and environmental stewardship.

“We’re excited about this relationship with Cargill because Cargill’s aspirations to be the global leader in nourishing people are very much aligned with ours,” stated Associate Dean Research and Graduate Studies of the University of Saskatchewan, Graham Scoles. “We believe that by working together – with Cargill and our other partners – we can meet the challenge of feeding the growing population that lies ahead. Cargill’s generous support helps advance our focus on value, quality and safety for many years to come.”

First conceptualised in 2009, the Canadian Feed Research Center came to fruition through a cooperative effort that included the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Western Diversification, which made contributions to build the $13.85 million Center.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to join with our partners in the establishment of this important research and training initiative that will greatly benefit Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry,” said MLA for North Battleford Herb Cox on behalf of Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart. “We appreciate our partners' contributions to this initiative and value Cargill’s continued investments in the Province of Saskatchewan.”