Global Institute for Food Security at USask signs agreement to accelerate social science research in food security

University of Saskatchewan (USask) research has received a $675,000 boost from the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) to investigate social science impacts on food security and barriers to agri-food innovation.

The grant from GIFS will fund collaborative studies with experts in USask’s Centre for the Study of Science and Innovation Policy (CSIP) in the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and in the university’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

The work will be led by Distinguished Professor Peter Phillips in CSIP and USask Industry Funded Research Chair Stuart Smyth, who is also associate professor in the university’s department of agricultural and resource economics.

“Agriculture and the agri-food sectors are vital to Canada and Saskatchewan’s economy, and advancing these sectors requires new thinking and collaboration with diverse stakeholders,” said Stephen Visscher (CBE), GIFS’ director of strategic partnerships and chief operating officer. 

“This alliance with skilled social scientists supports GIFS' collaborative approach to discover, develop and deliver novel production agriculture solutions that are economically and environmentally sustainable, and have the social license to operate.”

Social science plays an important role in research, providing tested and factual information about the adoption and adaptation of new products and services. During the thee-year alliance, Phillips and Smyth will work with GIFS scientists, performing necessary research with the goal of accelerating the process from innovation to commercialization of products for safe, nutritious and accessible food.  

“Innovation is much more than invention. Demonstrating an innovation will create market demand, and scaling up and commercializing new technologies and products is an art,” said Phillips. “Getting all this right takes significant research and analysis and this is what we will undertake.”

Social science research provides necessary information about the socio-economic factors that shape and sustain innovation so as to limit impediments from research through to commercialization.

“With the uncertainty regarding the speed or frequency of climactic changes on Canadian agriculture, it is more important than ever to have efficient commercialization and regulatory systems that are capable of rapidly delivering new crop varieties,” said Smyth. “This will help ensure Canada’s contribution to improving global food security.”

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For more information, contact:

Olufunke Okochi
Communications
Global Institute for Food Security
306-966-3706
olufunke.okochi@gifs.ca

Victoria Dinh
Communications and Media Coordinator
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-5487
victoria.dinh@usask.ca