GLOBAL INSTITUTE for FOOD SECURITY
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
PotashCorp - A Founding Partner
The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) is a unique public-private partnership that enables innovative, multi-disciplinary research, training, and technology development to improve sustainable crop production, enhance human and animal nutrition, and address the growing global demand for safe, reliable food.
New knowledge for sustainable food solutions by:
- increasing sustainable crop production;
- enhancing global food and nutrition security; and
- building a prosperous bio-economy in Western Canada.
By the middle of this century, the world’s population will drive increased demand for food and other agricultural products at the same time that changing climates will alter agricultural productivity. Research sponsored by GIFS addresses this global food security challenge, drawing on Saskatchewan’s resources and innovation and strengthening Western Canada’s bio-economy.
GIFS was launched on December 10, 2012, by its three founding partners – PotashCorp, the Province of Saskatchewan, and the University of Saskatchewan – with a commitment to invest $50 million over seven years in research and a shared vision to achieve innovative and sustainable solutions for global food security. GIFS brings together some of the world’s top scientific talent in a dynamic bio-cluster, state of-the-art research facilities, including Canada’s national synchrotron, and a track record of renowned crop development successes and producer engagement at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S).
As a cross-disciplinary institute, GIFS will engage leading scientists and students from the U of S and other universities and research institutions in Canada and abroad, providing unprecedented opportunities for collaboration on food security questions of local and global importance. Academic freedom is foundational to the institute’s success.
Recognizing that many players – in academe, industry, and government – are required to contribute solutions that will feed a growing world population, the institute is seeking additional private and public funding and partners to advance its goals.