Thanks for the question, because it is a priority area for the minister.
Just by way of background, in our recent consultations leading to the next policy framework, there's no question about it: people are looking at biotechnology and genetic engineering as a supply solution to global food security problems and also as a source of income for farmers in Canada, particularly in new crops with new agronomic attributes, and attributes that contribute to health and nutrition, for example.
In the recent framework, the department has made some significant investments in programs that are designed to develop new agricultural products, and specifically, $41 million in partnering with about 100 different partners to catalyze and facilitate the development of new agricultural products, both food and non-food.
You mentioned partnering up on the science side with other science performers. We instituted a program with nearly $70 million over five years to partner up with about 100 other science performers looking specifically at commodity group problems and challenges.
I can give you some examples. We have a wheat cluster that looks at new variety development and agronomic attributes. We have a swine cluster looking at lowering food costs and looking at animal health and safety issues. We're working with the canola and flax people again to look at health attributes and proving nutritional and health attributes for treating cardiovascular disease and things like diabetes. In the pulse sector, which is growing significantly, as the minister mentioned, we have about 100 scientists working with us on enhancing productivity, enhancing nutritional value, and improving processing of what is going to prove to be a major export crop for Canada.
In dairy, we're looking at nutritional value and innovative things that respond to the demands of consumers today for health benefits--for example, by looking at lowering salt in cheese