Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Science and innovation obviously is one thing that's important to government as well. It's one of the pillars of the APF. It's something we've been discussing lately. It's something this government actually feels is important also.
We have committed another $6.5 million under 15 projects under the ACAAF programs that have been in place; $3.2 million has been committed to Pulse Canada, an innovation project that they came and thought was a good project. The funding is going towards trying to develop new markets. That's something that we think is important, new markets for pulse crops such as lentils, beans, peas, and chickpeas.
We heard also in the United States that one of the focuses of their new farm bill is going to be putting money into specialty crops, and a lot of that money will likely go towards research and innovation in speciality crops, including horticulture. That's an important thing for us. If we're going to compete on an even footing with other countries, we need to have some ability to market our crops. We've put money towards this project in order to develop new markets.
There are a lot of high-value North American markets out there that we need to try to find and to develop. So that's what this is focused on. I guess the ultimate goal, of course, is that in the end producers are going to be able to have higher returns for their farm-produced products.
I think it was also clear that we needed to develop a new direction and strategy for science and innovation. So the minister has been aggressive in that area, in trying to present a new strategy for agriculture science and innovation that will focus on maximizing research opportunities. Several of us have research stations in our ridings, and we understand the importance of research.
I had a chance, actually, to talk to Dr. Fortin a couple of weeks ago. He said that he had been out in Swift Current, which is where we have a research station. He said he was amazed. They have a hall of fame up there, Mr. Chair, where they have pictures of the researchers over the years, but they also have displays of the different varieties of wheat that have been developed in that research station.
It's interesting, because it's almost a history of wheat development, particularly in western Canada. You can go along, and those of us who have farmed, you can—