WINNIPEG — Canola has a brighter future now that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced $14.5 million in funding for agronomic and nutrition research under a new Canola/Flax Agri-Science Cluster. This funding will be matched by industry and farmers for a total amount of nearly $20 million. And that’s not all, as an additional $4.6 million of government funding will support the Clubroot Risk Mitigation Project, which seeks to identify best management practices and breed clubroot-resistant canola varieties. All research funding will help the canola industry increase production to 15-million tonnes by 2015.

"With the Canadian government's extraordinary investment in agronomic research, we will accomplish our 2015 goal, which is expected to add $12.5 billion annually to Canada's economy," said JoAnne Buth, CCC president. "And the nutrition studies will further increase demand for canola in markets worldwide."

EDMONTON — One of Canada’s leading poultry manufacturers is set to be gobbled up by another of the nation’s leading meat manufacturers.

Sofina Foods Inc. of Markham, Ont., and Edmonton-based Lilydale Inc. announced yesterday that they have signed an agreement under which Lilydale will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sofina Foods.

OAK BROOK, Ill. — With the Vancouver Olympics just weeks away, Game sponsor McDonald’s recently unveiled new advertising, athlete-themed packaging and the latest news on its signature programs for the 2010 event.

Earlier this week, Mary Dillon, McDonald’s Global chief marketing officer, John Betts, McDonald’s Canada president and olympians Shawn Johnson (U.S. gold medal gymnast) and Patrick Chan (Canadian men’s figure skating champion and world silver medalist) shared details of how McDonald’s programs will seek to enhance the Olympic experience for fans around the world during the Games this February.