The Western Grains Research Foundation isn’t thrilled with federal funding cuts to wheat research, but the foundation is willing to adapt, said Dave Sefton, WGRF chair.
“Now is the time for producers and industry to find ways to increase cereal research investments to levels competitive with other crops and other countries,” said Sefton, who farms near Broadview, Sask. “Of course, we are supportive of more money being spent (on wheat research) than less, but we have to work with the hand that we are dealt.”
Following the March 29 federal budget, Agriculture Canada announced in April it would close the Cereal Research Centre in Winnipeg by April 2014, cutting 41 research jobs and moving about 60 scientists to Agriculture Canada research centres in Morden and Brandon, Man.
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Wheat breeders at the Cereal Research Centre have helped develop some of the most popular spring wheat varieties on the Prairies, including Harvest, Unity, Superb and Kane.
Groups like the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance, a CWB advocacy group, condemned the federal government’s decision to close the centre.
“These are the first steps towards privatizing plant breeding and ending the historic partnership between farmers, scientists and the federal government,” said Alliance chair Bill Gehl, adding the government cutbacks open the door for private industry to push genetically modified wheat into Canada.
Using more moderate language, the WGRF said Agriculture Canada’s long-term plan is to focus on wheat germplasm development, not wheat variety development.
Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz clarified the government is “reducing” its commitment to variety development.
“We will continue to do variety research and develop germplasm while reducing our variety finishing and final stages of commercialization,” he said in an e-mail. “The government is creating a regulatory climate that allows for timely and competitive research and development for the benefit of farmers.”
Since Agriculture Canada is backing away from its traditional role in wheat varietal development, the WGRF is fleshing out plans to fill the void, Sefton said.
“From the perspective of Western Grains, we are working with the Alberta Seed Growers and a group of western Canadian farmers to look at an alternative method of delivering varieties,” he said, noting a possible solution could incorporate public, private and producer interests.
