Global demand for Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat is expected to increase as international buyers see evidence that Canadian supplies are stable and growing.
“We think there’s a very bright future for this type of wheat,” said Earl Geddes, chief executive officer of the Canadian International Grains Institute.
“Consumer response has always been very positive, but there’s never been a consistent supply so it’s really been the supply that’s held the opportunity back for this class. I think we’re starting to see a shift there now.”
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CPSR is a minor wheat class in Canada.
Until recently, it accounted for one to two percent of total wheat acreage in Western Canada.
However, Geddes said CPSR acreage increased significantly this year, and similar gains are likely in 2014.
“I think we saw the acreage last year went up by about a million and a half acres and next year we expect it to go up even more,” he said.
“As we can supply this product, they’re going to be asking for it in pretty large volumes.”
CIGI has traditionally focused much of its wheat-related programming on the Canada Western Red Spring class, which is still recognized by many international buyers as the best milling wheat available.
However, buyers in some parts of the world are showing increased interest in CPSR, which generally produces higher yields than CWRS but less protein.
End-use characteristics of CPSR are well-suited to many types of bread and noodle making.
Geddes said CIGI has expanded its programming to include more promotion of CPSR and Canada Western Red Wheat , which produces some of the whitest flour in the world.
Consistency of Canada’s CPSR crop is also high.
“If you have a vessel of CPS wheat from Western Canada, there’s probably only three varieties in it and they’re all cousins,” Geddes said.
“So it’s very, very consistent and you know exactly what’s coming on a boat.”
FP Genetics announced last week that it will invest $1.5 million over the next 10 years in the Canadian Prairie Spring wheat breeding program at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre.
Curtis Pozniak, who will head the CPSR program at CDC, said the centre decided several years ago to increase its capacity in CPSR breeding.
