The federal and provincial governments have invested more than $210,000 for a new Manitoba research site focused on improving yields of potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots.

The site will be developed near Winkler, the governments said in a news release Monday.

“This investment will help Canada’s vegetable farmers expand their markets in Canada and abroad, creating new opportunities and generating greater returns for Canadian farmers,” said Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

Demand for sweet potatoes has increased in Canada by 83 per cent over the last 10 years, the provincial government said, and Manitoba growers have found the local growing season to be too short to produce varieties of sweet potatoes.

The research site will focus on new varieties of the vegetable that are better suited for the province’s shorter growing season, plus nutrient and pest management and crop management techniques.

“This research project will provide Manitoba’s growers with relevant information to help them make decisions for their farms, while also identifying new opportunities for the future,” said Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler.

The research site will be operated by Peak of the Market, with the company investing more than $477,000 towards the three-year project.

“New crops and varieties are a key component to ongoing success,” said Keith Kuhl, chair of Peak of the Market and president of Southern Potato.

Government funds for the project are coming from the Growing Innovation program, which provides financial assistance to spark innovation in Manitoba’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-processing sectors.