Grower-funded agronomic research
The Canola Agronomic Research Program (CARP) is funded by the three provincial canola grower organizations – Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, and the Manitoba Canola Growers – and administered by the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). Projects are selected for funding by canola growers through a robust review process and driven by research priorities developed by each province’s farmer-led canola research committees.
Additional funds for selected projects are provided by the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF), Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) and other occasional funding partners.
Since 1985, CARP has supported canola research that increases yield and profitability, reduces production risk and enhances sustainability. Funded projects must include plans for effective knowledge and technology transfer, and results are integrated into the Canola Research Hub, Canola Digest, Canola Watch, the Canola Encyclopedia and extension presentations/events.
View previously funded CARP projects.
2026 CARP
The call to submit Letters of intent (LOIs) for the 2026 CARP intake (projects starting April 1st, 2026) will open this spring. Stay tuned for further details.
For inquiries, please contact Chris Manchur (CCC research priorities) or Ellen McNabb (CARP administration).
2025 CARP
Eleven new canola research projects were funded in the 2025 CARP call. The projects focused on providing new strategies for managing pests and diseases, improving nutrient management and supporting a more resilient canola crop.
How projects are selected
- Research priorities and targets for funding are set or updated after engagement with farmers, industry, and relevant groups (such as expert steering committees and the crop production and innovation team).
- Letters of intent (LOI’s) are reviewed by staff at the provincial canola groups and the CCC. The highest-ranked LOI’s are invited to submit full proposals.
- Full proposals are reviewed by:
- Farmer-led research committees and staff at Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds and Manitoba Canola Growers
- External specialists who assess methodology, scientific merit, etc.
- CCC agronomy specialists
- RDAR and WGRF, if they are interested in funding a specific project.
- Final funding decisions are made by the farmer-led research committees and staff at Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, Manitoba Canola Growers.
Tips for success
- Clearly communicate the specific and quantifiable outcome(s) of this project and who will benefit from its findings. Economic analyses and return on investment (ROI) for the proposed project are encouraged.
- Ensure that the language and resources in your application are clear and understandable to all reviewers (farmers, scientists, industry, etc.).
- Double check that your methodology is well-developed and clear for all audiences. And read this article on Treatment Lists to better understand what our research committees look for in a project’s methodology section.
- Collaboration is strongly encouraged.
- CARP is a competitive funding call. Please review canola research priorities before submitting an LOI:
Extended funding opportunity for CARP projects
Researchers who have been previously funded by CARP and are looking to discover further findings, insights and recommendations from their past projects are encouraged to re-apply for funding. To expand the value of recently completed projects, CARP can provide an opportunity for additional analysis of datasets to deliver conclusions that extend past what was provided in the original project, or to investigate new findings and questions that arose from the original work. Applications of this type are anticipated to have a smaller budget and shorter time frame and must conform to the overall CARP submission guidelines.
Notifications
To receive notifications about requests for letters of intent and other research-related information, please subscribe to the “Crop Production Research Notifications” email distribution list.
Reporting
Principal Investigators of a CARP project must complete the following reports on behalf of their research team and submit to Ellen McNabb:
CARP annual report (.doc template)
CARP final project report (.doc template)
CARP final abstract report (.doc template; to be completed and submitted with the final report)
Funding partners
CARP areas of focus
Increasing yields and profitability
Reducing production risk
Enhancing sustainability
