Saskatchewan driving global energy and food security

It is often said that Saskatchewan has the food, fuel, fertilizer, and critical minerals a growing world needs. But what’s often overlooked is how the province’s manufacturing sector plays a crucial role in keeping its agricultural and energy output on track. 

A natural resource powerhouse

Saskatchewan is known for the largest, highest quality deposits of potash and uranium globally, which will help to ensure food and energy security for generations. 

Behind the province’s mining sector, which works hard to extract these valuable resources, is the manufacturing sector that ensures they have the tools needed to succeed. It’s this symbiotic relationship that ensures goods can be delivered to global markets. 

A sustainability and innovation ecosystem 

The province is one of the most sustainable energy jurisdictions in the world, and is a leader in Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage and renewable energy.

The province’s uranium industry forms a crucial component of its sustainable energy strategy. Not only is this abundant resource in Saskatchewan critical to global production of nuclear power, the province is also now in the process of establishing a manufacturing supply chain for small modular reactors in order to become a vertically integrated nuclear leader worldwide.

To support all of this, the province continues to focus its efforts on innovation, including many private and public research facilities and agencies. These include the Global Institute for Water Security, Global Institute for Food Security, Plant Biotechnology Institute, the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, Canadian Light Source Synchrotron, Petroleum Technology Research Centre, and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC). Each of these organizations conduct research that has a meaningful impact on global sustainability efforts.

The SRC is an especially important part of the province’s research and development landscape. The organization provides services that support a variety of industries in Saskatchewan and beyond, including mining, minerals, agriculture, oil and gas, clean energy and biotechnology. Their Rare Earth Processing Facility is also the first of its kind in Canada and is laying the groundwork for a Rare Earth Element (REE) supply chain in Saskatchewan, which is leading to the province becoming a REE hub. 

This innovation ecosystem is creating exciting opportunities for manufacturers in the province to support Saskatchewan’s strong commitment towards sustainability and fulfilling the world’s food and energy needs. 

Global leaders in sustainable ag-tech

No-till seeding, pioneered in Saskatchewan, has been adopted in many parts of the world, making the province a global leader in developing and implementing sustainable ag-technologies. 

Agricultural machinery manufacturers Väderstad and Bourgault Industries produce air seeders and other agricultural equipment aimed at reducing soil disturbance and carbon emissions. The strong focus on no-till farming in Saskatchewan has led to improved soil health, higher crop yields, and reduced labour and fuel costs. All of this is proving invaluable to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving soil carbon sequestration. 

Another Saskatchewan-based manufacturing company that provides innovative solutions to the province’s agriculture industry is Draganfly. One of the many ways in which their custom-made drones help farmers minimize input costs and optimize yields is through precision spraying.

Manufacturing food and energy security for a growing world

It is clear that Saskatchewan’s manufacturing sector has a pivotal role to play in helping the province drive global food and energy security. While having the resources a growing world needs is one thing, making sure they are brought to market responsibly is a task that manufacturers in Saskatchewan are embracing wholeheartedly.