The industry is very supportive of the cluster model and looks forward to working with a similar model going forward.
I'd identify a few priorities here. We've consulted broadly on this, just to identify some key things they want to see going forward. Building on success will include the ability to accommodate short-term and somewhat emerging issues midstream throughout the program. For example, the pulse industry identified or discovered an issue with respect to Aphanomyces or root rot midstream through GF2. Having the ability to access funds mid-term is going to be a priority so that industry can adapt to issues as they emerge.
Ensuring that all researchers can access funding, whether it is provided federally through the cluster program or administered provincially, and limiting the barriers to that access are priorities. Provincial government employees and provincial government research are a priority and are important in many provinces across the country. There is a request that we do everything we can to ensure that we limit the constraints to accessing that funding by provincial growers. Continuity and a seamless transition between Growing Forward programs is seen as important.
The key thing here is getting the program up and running as quickly as possible in the spring of 2018. Seed has to go in the ground in April and May. If we miss that time frame, we lose an entire year of research.
As a last note, efficient processes would be absolutely key.