The CWRC and CBRC have formalized a partnership aimed at building a more innovative, resilient breeding system for Canadian farmers.
Two producer-led research coalitions are combining their efforts to help shape the future of wheat and barley breeding in Canada.
The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) and Canadian Barley Research Coalition (CBRC) announced Sept. 3 that they have entered a formal strategic partnership. The agreement brings the two organizations together to address shared pressures and opportunities within the breeding systems for both crops.
“Our two organizations have a history of working together on behalf of western Canadian farmers, so this formal partnership was a natural fit,” says CWRC chair Jocelyn Velestuk, who farms near Broadview, Sask. “Many farmers grow both wheat and barley, and the breeding systems for both crops face similar challenges that we can now address collaboratively.”
The partnership formally brings the CBRC into discussions already underway between the CWRC and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Those talks grew out of the CWRC’s review of Canada’s wheat breeding innovation system and the report that followed.
That work examined potential risks and opportunities facing the system, with the goal of ensuring Canadian breeding programs continue delivering elite varieties to farmers.
The CBRC was already involved in the broader conversation. In April, it participated in a CWRC visioning workshop that brought industry stakeholders and AAFC representatives together to develop a shared picture of what an optimal western Canadian wheat and barley breeding system should look like. The resulting vision was later outlined in a joint statement.
“We all agreed that the ideal plant breeding system is innovation driven and delivers field-ready varieties that meet the needs of farmers and our end-use customers around the world,” says CBRC chair Scott Jespersen, who farms near Spruce Grove, Alta. “Through this new agreement, the CBRC and CWRC hope to ensure the Canadian system meets that standard for many years to come.”
Through the partnership, the organizations intend to coordinate their work on challenges affecting both wheat and barley breeding. The CWRC and CBRC say the objective is a system that serves farmers, strengthens the industry and delivers broader benefits for Canada.
