CWRC report highlights risks and opportunities in Canada's wheat breeding system скачать в хорошем качестве

CWRC report highlights risks and opportunities in Canada's wheat breeding system

Canada’s wheat breeding system has delivered strong returns for farmers for decades, but a new review suggests the current model is facing growing pressure and may require significant transformation to remain competitive. The report was commissioned by the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC), which consists of the three Prairie province wheat grower organizations – Alberta Grains, Sask Wheat, and the Manitoba Crop Alliance. In this interview with RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney, Jocelyn Velestuk, CWRC chair and farmer near Broadview, Saskatchewan, and Rob Hannam, president of Synthesis Agri-Food Network, discuss the findings of the report Securing the Future of Wheat in Canada. The review examines the structure of Canada’s wheat breeding innovation system and identifies risks that could affect future variety development. Velestuk says the report highlights how critical public breeding programs—particularly those run by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)—have been to the success of Canadian wheat production. Roughly 80 per cent of wheat acres in Canada are planted to varieties developed through AAFC programs, making them the backbone of Western Canadian wheat breeding. However, the report also identifies emerging weaknesses within the system. It says recent and historic budget cuts, along with declining research capacity, are creating challenges in key stages of the breeding process—particularly variety development and pre-market testing. “It’s clear that the status quo is not a viable path forward,” Velestuk says. “Our system has been incredibly productive for farmers and for the sector, but it’s no longer working.” The review outlines five stages in the wheat breeding pipeline—from foundational science and germplasm enhancement through to variety development, testing, and commercialization. According to the report, the early stages of research remain relatively strong in Canada’s public system, but gaps are emerging in later stages where breeding lines are advanced, tested, and prepared for release to farmers. Hannam says the goal of the review was to take a systems-level look at how the breeding pipeline functions and where it may be falling short. “We looked across the entire continuum of plant genetics improvement,” Hannam says, noting that the analysis involved reviewing dozens of reports and consulting with nearly 30 stakeholders from across the wheat sector, including breeders, seed companies, universities, government researchers, and farmer representatives. One of the major challenges, he adds, is that wheat breeding is inherently long-term. From the first cross to commercial release, a new wheat variety can take more than a decade to develop. As a result, decisions about funding, infrastructure, and program structure today will influence the varieties available to farmers many years from now. Despite the concerns raised in the report, Velestuk emphasizes that farmers have already made significant investments in strengthening wheat breeding capacity. Since 2020, the CWRC has committed more than $70 million to western Canadian wheat breeding programs through partnerships with AAFC and universities. Those investments have historically produced strong returns. Research from the University of Saskatchewan estimates farmers have received roughly $33 in economic benefits for every dollar invested in wheat breeding between 1995 and 2020. Looking ahead, the report is intended to start a broader conversation across the wheat sector about how to strengthen Canada’s breeding system. Velestuk says the coalition will now engage with government, researchers, and industry partners to explore potential solutions and ensure Canadian farmers continue to benefit from a strong pipeline of new wheat varieties. Website: https://www.realagriculture.com/ Find us on our other social media platforms: X/Twitter:   / realagriculture   Instagram:   / realagriculture   Facebook:   / realagmedia