Lac Ste. Anne County is calling on the federal government to reconsider the anticipated closure of the Lacombe Research and Development Centre due to concerns about the impact to research, innovation and producer support in Alberta and across Canada.
At the end of January, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced it would be closing the 119-year-old Lacombe Research and Development Centre, along with two other centres in Ontario and Quebec, plus four satellite research farms in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
The AAFC said between the seven total closures, 665 positions will be reduced, with notices about the closures being given to 1,043 employees impacted on Jan. 22. The Lacombe closure will reportedly impact more than 100 employees.
“For more than a century, this research station has been a cornerstone of agricultural advancement in Western Canada,” says Lac Ste. Anne County Reeve Jurgen Preugschas. “Once this facility’s specialized land, long-term trials and institutional knowledge are lost, they cannot be replaced.”
County officials say the closure is expected to have a significantly detrimental impact on advancing innovation and scientific knowledge, and will weaken research capacity at a time when climate, economic and market pressures are impacting producers.
Agricultural research sites like the one in Lacombe deliver science-based information without commercial influence, contributing to industry knowledge on meat production, crop and livestock management, emerging technologies and long-term sustainability, the county continues. As arm’s-length research capacity declines, officials say producers will have fewer trusted sources of unbiased information.
“The value of this institution extends far beyond its physical footprint,” adds Reeve Preugschas. “It is essential to safeguarding Canadian agricultural competitiveness and innovation.”
A full list of projects to have been based out of the LRDC can be seen here.
In response to the announced cuts, Lac Ste. Anne County is urging the federal government to:
- Pause the closure decision immediately to allow for a full assessment of regional and sector-wide impacts.
- Engage in meaningful consultation with local governments, producer groups and agricultural stakeholders.
- Explore alternative approaches that preserve Canada’s long-term agricultural research capacity.
With files from rdnewsNOW.
