Wheat breeding | FP Genetics invests in Canadian Prairie Spring wheat program based out of University of Saskatchewan
A Saskatchewan seed company plans to invest $1.5 million in a Canadian Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat breeding program at the University of Saskatchewan.
Regina-based FP Genetics announced Aug. 14 that it will invest the money over the next 10 years to support CPS wheat breeding initiatives at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), located on the U of S campus in Saskatoon.
Brent McCarthy, chair of FP Genetics’ board of directors, said the new agreement is the continuation of a well-established relationship between the two organizations.
FP Genetics’ seed portfolio already includes close to a dozen cereal varieties developed by CDC plant breeders.
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“FP Genetics has had quite a good history with CDC … in accessing their varieties,” said McCarthy, a pedigreed seed grower based at Corning, Sask.
CPS wheat is a minor wheat class in Western Canada but some industry observers believe that prairie acreage could increase significantly in the coming years.
CPS varieties generally have less protein than Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) varieties but their milling properties and bread-making attributes are expected to gain wider acceptance among end-users and international buyers.
CPS varieties normally yield 15 to 20 percent higher than the most popular CWRS varieties.
“We see the CPS class of wheat as an area of growth within the agricultural industry and our shared goal of improving high quality wheat varieties with elite agronomic performance will be a great partnership,” McCarthy said.
The new funding agreement will allow FP Genetics to work with CDC researchers to develop new varieties with improved agronomic traits and end-use attributes.
It will also allow the CDC to significantly expand its current breeding efforts within the CPS wheat class and will give FP Genetics continued access to CPS varieties developed at the centre.
The deal comes amid increasing signals that Agriculture Canada is reducing its involvement in the development and release of market-ready milling wheat varieties in Western Canada.
“This is a significant investment from a Saskatchewan company at a time of uncertainty regarding wheat research in Canada,” said CDC’s managing director Kofi Agblor.
FP Genetics was founded in 2008. It provides seed grower members with access to new crop varieties for multiplication and sale.
The company has more than 40 different crop varieties in its seed portfolio, including 10 wheat varieties.
The Crop Development Centre, Saskatchewan’s top crop breeding institute, derives funding from government, farmer organizations and private-sector partnerships.
