WINNEPEG, MAN. – The Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) has received $2 million from the governments of Canada and Manitoba to buy equipment for applied agricultural research, said Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba minister of agriculture, food and rural development.

The allocation’s funding was provided by the Grain Innovation Hub, a joint Canadian federal-provincial initiate established last May to support grain research and development in Manitoba. Research efforts aim to add value to crops within Manitoba as well as across Canada.

“We welcome this significant investment from the federal and provincial governments which shows their recognition of the value of the grain industry in Manitoba and the work we do here at Cigi,” said JoAnne Buth, chief executive officer of the institute.

Cigi plans to use the funds to buy more than 20 pieces of equipment that will add to the organization’s capabilities in milling, baking, noodle, pasta, pulse and analytical services facilities, said Rex Newkirk, vice president of research and innovation.

“This gives us the opportunity to purchase, for example, equipment such as a Swedish-manufactured Bomill, which involves near infrared transmittance to sort grain in order to improve its quality and grade, a Mixolab used to test samples of flour for dough characteristics, and a cooking system that will enable us to expand our work with pulses,” he said.

Mr. Newkirk said the new equipment also will improve Cigi’s opportunities to partner with other Manitoba governmental and private-sector organizations.