Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has announced 20 new research projects across Canada that will support the use of clean and sustainable technologies.

$1.9 million will be spent on a project with the University of Manitoba to study strategies for reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) on Canadian cattle farms.

“Canadian farmers are great stewards of the land and the environment," said MacAulay. "These new investments are part of the government’s commitment to address climate change and ensuring our farming sector are world leaders in the use and development of clean and sustainable technology and processes.”

The new research projects are supported by the $27 million, five-year Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program intended to help create technologies, practices and processes to help the agricultural sector adjust to climate change and improve soil and water conservation by developing new farming practices and methods.

The announcement comes as the country prepares to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday.

The program covers four priority areas of research: livestock and cropping systems, agricultural water use efficiency and agro-forestry.