2013 Progress Report GLOBAL INSTITUTE for FOOD SECURITY POTASHCORP – A FOUNDING PARTNER INVESTING IN GLOBAL FOOD SOLUTIONS: 2013 – A FOUNDATIONAL YEAR THE FOUNDING PARTNERS years, with which the Institute will With a shared vision to develop apply Saskatchewan’s unique resources, Saskatchewan-led solutions to feed a innovation and expertise to address growing world population, the Global the increasing global demand for safe, Institute for Food Security (GIFS) was reliable food. established on December 10, 2012 University of Saskatchewan, a world- through a unique public-private renowned centre of excellence in partnership of PotashCorp, the agriculture and food-system related Government of Saskatchewan and research, contributed its world-class the University of Saskatchewan. facilities and centres of expertise critical PotashCorp provided an initial investment to the Institute’s success. Representatives of the Founding Partners to GIFS of up to CDN $35 million over Through the Institute, Saskatchewan launched the Global Institute for Food Security seven years, which represents the largest will make contributions to global food on December 10, 2012. donation in the company’s history and security by supplying healthy agricultural L to R: reflects its deep commitment to food commodities and food ingredients, as well Bill Doyle, President and CEO, PotashCorp; security. The donation is one of the as crop production inputs such as potash. Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac, President, largest corporate donations for university It will be a world leader in innovations University of Saskatchewan; research in Canada. Brad Wall, Premier, Province of Saskatchewan. in agriculture and will be a model for The Government of Saskatchewan international cooperation in science and invested CDN $15 million over seven technology transfer. Global food security is achieved MISSION when all people at all times New knowledge for sustainable food solutions by increasing sustainable have access to sufficient, safe, crop production, building a prosperous bio-economy in Western Canada, and enhancing global food and nutrition security through innovation and nutritious food to maintain international collaboration a healthy and active lifestyle. World Food Summit - 1996 OUR VISION As a cross-disciplinary institute, GIFS will serve as a catalyst for knowledge, research, and innovation by engaging leading scientists, educators, innovators, and students from research institutes, universities, and industry in Canada and around the world. It will provide unprecedented opportunities for collaboration on sustainable global food security solutions. LEADING DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION Building on our mission and vision, GIFS GIFS will draw on the unique expertise research on food systems will produce and technology of a bioscience research solutions that are relevant and transfer- cluster that includes the University of able to parts of the world where food Saskatchewan, Canadian Light Source production and distribution remains a synchrotron, Saskatchewan Research challenge. Developing plant traits for Council, National Research Council and higher yields, examining how soil quality Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In affects the nutritional value of crops, addition, GIFS enjoys the support of adapting traditional prairie crops to local private-sector business and industry in soils and water – these are a few of the Saskatchewan whose enterprises foster ways GIFS will advance food solutions for and depend on agriculture and food. growing populations and economies around the world. Agriculture Johnson-Shoyama Crop Private sector and Agri-Food Graduate School Development U of S colleges/ enriches the region: Canada of Public Policy Centre schools, including: • Multi-national seed, • Agriculture & Bioresources technology & • Arts & Science fertilizer companies • Engineering • Agriculture commodity Global Institute associations for Food Security • Veterinary Medicine • SMEs & technology • Pharmacy & Nutrition companies • Edwards School of Business • School of Environment National Canadian Global & Sustainability Research Council Light Institute for • School of Public Health of Canada Source Inc. Water Security Dr. Roger Beachy, Founding Executive Director & CEO LEADERSHIP In January, 2013, Dr. Roger Beachy was appointed the Interim CEO is appointed in 2014, Dr. Ernie Barber, who served as GIFS’s and Founding Executive Director and CEO for GIFS. Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, was appointed as Managing Director, January 1, 2014. World-renowned with a prolific body of research over his 40-year career, Dr. Beachy is internationally recognized for his research in food crops, production agriculture, and applications of biotechnology in agriculture and nutrition. As founder of the Board of Directors (as at December 31, 2013) Danforth Plant Science Centre in Missouri, first Director of the US Four directors, reflecting the synergy that the new National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Chief Scientist of institute will promote between industry, government the US Department of Agriculture his experience and expertise and academia were appointed in 2013: has been invaluable to the launch of GIFS. In its first year under the leadership of Dr. Roger Beachy, Mr. Dallas Howe GIFS made significant strides in operational and program Chair of the Board of Potash development. Early developments included the establishment Corporation of Saskatchewan of a Board of Directors that encompassed representation by industry, government and academia, the hiring of operational staff, and the development of thematic strategic planning for research and innovation initiatives all linked to GIFS’s mission Ms. Alanna Koch to increase crop production, build a prosperous economy in Deputy Minister of Saskatchewan, and contribute to global food and nutrition Saskatchewan Agriculture security. With thematic research and innovations themes established, an inaugural call for research proposals around one of the themes and an extensive review process of the Mr. Peter MacKinnon proposals selected took place. An expression of interest involving President Emeritis of the collaboration with several disciplines at the University of University of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan was also advanced coupled with efforts to recruit an internationally renowned scientific investigator in the area of plant/crop reproduction and seed technology in 2014. With foundational priorities and research directions established, Dr. Lorne Hepworth Dr. Beachy concluded his term as interim and Founding President of Croplife Executive Director and CEO on December 31, 2013. Going Canada forward, he will continue as a senior consultant to the institute. A planned search for a full time Executive Director and CEO began in late 2013. Until a permanent Executive Director and A STRONG FOUNDATION A CATALYST FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Over the past year, GIFS has advanced a GIFS aims to create a research culture that is interdisciplinary, systems-based, global, number of initiatives to position itself as and focused on moving solutions from discovery to innovation to commercialization. Its a leading-edge food research Institute. investments will shine a light on food research excellence currently underway, identify These include: opportunities for private-sector involvement and focus research efforts to maximize • Working with partners to identify key returns on public-sector investment. infrastructure needs to ensure that the In its first year, GIFS identified three themes to take full advantage of the existing Saskatchewan biosciences cluster has science and infrastructure strengths in the Saskatoon agriculture and biosciences the platform technologies necessary to research cluster and the strengths and reputation of the agriculture and agribusiness support a new centre of excellence in sector initiatives. These three research and innovation themes are all linked to the plant sciences and food production; mission to increase crop production, build a prosperous economy in Saskatchewan, • Identifying opportunities to enhance and contribute to global food and nutrition security: human capital within the cluster by 1 Healthy soils for optimum crop productivity and recruiting world-class scientists and agricultural sustainability their productive research programs to Research may include topics such as maximizing Saskatoon, enabling dramatic progress nutrient and water use efficiency and minimizing towards increasing crop production; soil-borne plant disease. A priority is given to • Utilizing research funds to provide building on local strengths, including the presence incentives to scientists within the cluster of the Canadian Light Source synchrotron and a to bundle their expertise together with new cyclotron to enhance the use of high-resolution other disciplines and professionals to imaging and analysis of physical, chemical, and work on system-based challenges that biological complexity in agriculture soils. cannot be resolved any other way; and 2 Increasing resiliency of crops and • Forming partnerships between scientists cropping systems in Saskatchewan and those in partner Research will seek genetic and agronomic solutions countries of particular interest or to substantially increase crop yield and to confront relevance to Saskatchewan to ensure existing and new biotic and abiotic threats to crops. we make the best use of talent and Overall agricultural productivity will be enhanced infrastructure. by developing crops and