Long-term research needed | Other research priorities may include nutrient management and ‘enabling technologies’
Wheat development is one of five or six long-term projects that agricultural research will boil down to in the next few years, says soil scientist and professor Bill McGregor.
The crop has already been at least partially established as a research focal point through last year’s formation of the Canadian Wheat Alliance at the University of Saskatchewan, McGregor told a University of Lethbridge audience Feb. 7.
He said only four or five countries export wheat, and Canada should retain its goals of quality and quantity.
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“I think every major company in the world, at 2008, roughly, and on, has figured out that wheat has been under-resourced, so if we’re going to stay where we are, we’re going to have to play the game and hopefully we can expand the game.”
McGregor referred to 10 to 15 year research projects, but wheat breeder Rob Graf said 10 years would be the minimum to achieve innovation in wheat varieties and hybrids. It’s one reason typical five-year funding cycles are a problem.
“Even 10 years is almost unrealistic,” said Graf.
McGregor was less specific in his predictions about the other projects on which agricultural research will focus.
Nutrient management is a likely possibility, as are “enabling technologies” that explore and develop drought tolerant and cold tolerant crop varieties.
McGregor, who has a 40-year career in soil science with universities and seed companies, is the U of L’s first “agri-scientist in residence,” and spent a week in southern Alberta talking about agricultural research and careers.
He said agricultural researchers may narrow their focus in the future because of reduced public funding for basic research and the need for farm organizations and private industry to target their resources.
“I think what we’ve really got is two areas.… I think the basic (research) is government funded and short-term is producer funded. The big problem is making sure we have scientists that can do applied research,” McGregor said after his public address.
“Where we really struggle and where I think everybody’s got frustration is that area in the middle, which really requires long-term focused research that’s got to have an application at the end.”
Determining the focus of long-term research will require industry leadership and the fortitude to put resources toward an uncertain outcome. It will also require more collaboration.
