Prairie farmers will be providing the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre with $9 million over the next decade to develop new wheat and barley varieties.
The money will come from the producer checkoff on commercial sales of wheat and barley that’s administered by the Western Grains Research Foundation.
The new 10-year funding agreement between the foundation and the CDC was unveiled at a signing ceremony at the U of S College of Agriculture building.
“This will help our industry remain competitive with Australia, the U.S. and other countries where producers are investing heavily in breeding research,” said foundation chair Keith Degenhardt, a farmer from Hughenden, Alta.
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Research supported by the checkoff has been instrumental in the development of more than 50 new varieties of wheat and barley.
The agreement with the CDC is the first of a series of new funding deals that the foundation hopes will replace expiring agreements.
Similar agreements are nearing final approval with Agriculture Canada, the University of Alberta, the University of Manitoba and Alberta Agriculture.
All told, the foundation plans to distribute $4 to $5 million annually to plant breeders.
Degenhardt said the top priority is to finalize a new deal with Agriculture Canada, which has traditionally received about 75 percent of the funds for wheat breeding and about 50 percent for barley.
“We’re getting closer,” he said. “We’re hoping that within a couple of months we’ll have that agreement.”
He said it’s crucial that a deal be reached with Agriculture Canada because no other organization has the infrastructure required to carry out the extensive wheat breeding work it is now conducting.
A few months ago, the foundation was wondering if a new deal with Agriculture Canada would be possible, after Ag Canada officials suggested the department was re-evaluating its role in plant breeding.
Degenhardt said it now seems those comments were “trial balloons” and not an indication of future policy.
“I think now there is a willingness to look forward now,” he said, although he added issues such as the seed sector review and possible amendments to the Plant Breeders Rights Act could have an impact on future research funding.
The possibility of an election being called this spring or summer could also throw a monkey wrench into the plans, he said.
“We’re hoping to get it signed before any change in government,” said Degenhardt. “We’re not sure what the effect of that might be.”
The current agreement with Agriculture Canada expires April 30, although the government has set aside a contingency fund to cover expenses until a new agreement is signed.
CDC wheat breeder Pierre Hucl told the audience attending the signing ceremony that wheat breeding efforts at the university wouldn’t survive without the foundation’s support.
“If we did not have this funding we would not have the critical mass for wheat breeding at this institution, perhaps no wheat breeding at all,” he said, noting it is vital to obtaining matching funds and partnerships. “It’s very, very critical.”
About 80 to 90 percent of the funds will go to salaries, he said.
