A new plant protein supercluster in Saskatchewan will help Canada become among the top countries for agricultural production innovation, marketing and sales.

That from federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, who discussed the next steps for the initiative at an event in Regina on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in Regina, Goodale said the supercluster, selected as part of the Federal Government’s $950 million Innovation Superclusters Initiative, will bring together innovative talents across many sectors, including agriculture, finance and technology, to take the ag industry to a new level.

"If we want to be among the top three or four countries in the world for agricultural production, innovation, marketing, and sales, we have to be the best in the world regarding our brain power, our talent, and our investment in a field like plant proteins," Goodale said. "This supercluster will give us the opportunity to do that."

He said the supercluster would collaborate talents in sectors like agriculture, data management, transportation and finance, which in turn means an enormous potential for job and economic growth in Saskatchewan.

"We consider ourselves to be one of the best agricultural nations in the world," he said. "But if we want to be in the top 1, 2 or 3, then our brainpower, our ability to attract talent, our ability to apply technology, and to compete with the rest of the world successfully all of that needs to be second to none, and that's what the supercluster will give us a chance to do."

Goodale adds there is an enormous potential for job growth and economic and agricultural expansion with this supercluster in Saskatchewan.