Photo by Denis Cahill

Thanks to Jim Chaput, OMAFRA’s provincial minor use coordinator, here’s a report on the process and outcome of deciding on research priorities.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Centre (AAFC-PMC) and the Provincial Minor Use Coordinators (PMUCs) facilitated the 18th national minor use priority setting exercise virtually from April to July 2020 with the assistance of grower and crop specialist stakeholders

These included participants from across Canada such as university and federal researchers, crop extension specialists, provincial specialists, minor use coordinators, registrants, PMRA representatives, growers and grower organization representatives, processing companies and other stakeholders.  

Restrctions due to COVID-19 meant that a total of only 10 projects could be approved as compared to the normal 37 projects.  No greenhouse or forage projects could be done and there was a limitation on how many perennial crops could be taken on for 2021.  

The PMUCs and the AAFC-PMC agreed to select five (5) regional projects and five (5) national projects. All disciplines were reviewed together: entomology, pathology and weed science. 

These projects will be submitted to the PMRA by AAFC-PMC, and the data requirements completed in 2022-2023.  Registration decisions for these will likely occur in late 2023 and 2024.