New food security institute to look at supply from field to fork

SASKATOON – A new centre is being developed to look at food supply from field to fork as a growing population needs to be fed.

The Global Institute for Food Security, based at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, will look at everything from boosting crop yields to government agricultural policies.

The institute was announced today with $35 million from PotashCorp (TSX:POT) and $15 million from the province.

PotashCorp president Bill Doyle says food security is a challenge, adding there are about two billion people who are malnourished around the world.

Doyle says research at the institute could, for example, find ways for seeds to grow with less water.

Officials say Saskatchewan is a good home for the institute because the province has 41 per cent of the arable land in Canada.