ASBPC Hosts RDAR Delegation

Meeting Highlights:

On March 17, 2025 the ASBPC hosted CAO Mark Redmond and Vice Chair Josie Van Lent. This is the first time since 2022 that the ASBPC has hosted RDAR.

Organizational Overview 

• RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research) was established in 2019 with four research pillars: profitability, productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability 
• Has invested $110 million in 482 research projects over four years, leveraging public funding by a factor of three 
• Operates as a not-for-profit with 31 member organizations who elect a board of 10 directors 

Research Priorities and Funding 

• Focus on making research actionable for producers through their “Final Mile” initiative 
• Runs multiple funding competitions annually, including the Agriculture Funding Consortium 
• Invested $16.4 million in applied research associations in 2021 and $4 million in 2022 

Collaboration Opportunities 

• Help to distribute RDAR’s newsletter to ASBPC members 
• Proposed highlighting RDAR projects at the next ASBPC conference to increase awareness

How does RDAR’s “Final Mile” initiative aim to make research more actionable for agricultural producers?

RDAR’s Final Mile initiative represents a fundamental shift in how agricultural research is delivered to producers. Rather than allowing research to end as academic papers, presentations, or patents with limited practical application, the Final Mile approach ensures research reaches farmers in an actionable format.

Key Components of the Final Mile Approach: 

1. Producer-Focused Research Design 
   • Research is designed with the end user (farmers) in mind from the beginning 
   • Projects must demonstrate clear benefits and potential return on investment for producers 
   • RDAR views the Final Mile as “where the research journey on farm starts” rather than where it ends 
2. Practical Implementation Support
   • RDAR funds equipment acquisition to help producers implement research findings 
   • Example: Funded water buggies and razor bottle wire for rotational grazing systems, which were manufactured locally in Alberta 
   • This approach simultaneously supports local industry while making research implementation feasible 
3. Producer Research and Evaluation Program (PREP) 
   • Provides $25,000 grants to producers, colleges, or other groups to test and develop ideas 
   • Encourages producers to experiment with new techniques and technologies – a good opportunity for investment in Richardson’s Ground Squirrel control ideas including hawk poles. (slides 34-37 in the presentation below)
   • Recognizes that the agricultural community itself is a valuable source of innovation 
4. Collaborative Implementation
   • Works with applied research associations to harmonize efforts and share knowledge 
   • Requires business plans and strategic plans from partner organizations to ensure effective delivery 
   • Leverages existing networks to extend the reach of research findings 

The Final Mile initiative represents RDAR’s commitment to ensuring research doesn’t just end up “in the mailbox at the end of your driveway” but rather “in your hands and in a format which is going to be actionable” for Alberta’s agricultural producers. 

Links

RDAR’s Website

2023-2024 Impact Report – September 2024