b'CDC 50PART 1the leading field crop breeding organization in WesternCP: The CDC is a unique placewe have all the com-Canada. ponents along the innovation pipeline from knowledge creation to translation of science into products in demand Germination: Why is that a big deal for you? by the industry. We are well integrated into the univer-sity, the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and CP: We have become a large, complex organization andits productive departments. Within this space, theres a we felt our organizational structure needed to change todiscovery research component that generates knowledge, realize our vision for the next 50 years. We have had someresearch capacity to validate science and in the CDC, to fantastic leadership with the likes of Brian Harvey, Gordontranslate innovation into field-ready varieties, which con-Rowland and Rick Holm as directors of the CDC. Afterstitutes the delivery component.Rick retired, the CDC revamped the position to include aI believe it is this integration of the CDC into a mul-managing director who would lead our strategic agendatidisciplinary research organization that has contributed and the day-to-day operations. Dorothy Murrell and Kofito its success. There is also a major training component Agblor were strong leaders in this capacity. Now, we areat the CDC, where our faculty contribute to teaching, moving back to a director model where the director willgraduate student training, and leading large international focus on our mission and vision but will soon be hiringgenomics-related research projects. All of these things a CDC manager to handle the day-to-day activities andneed to be encompassed in our brand. The CDC is operations of the CDC.indeed a unique place that integrates the whole innova-tion pipeline from basic discovery research to delivery of Germination: Whats the second priority? product to farmers fields, and this needs to be communi-cated in our brand.CP: Risk management. Sometimes its hard to find time to look ahead, as you always spend time in the now.Germination: A lot has changed with regard to public We recognize some risks to our vision and some ofbreeding as shifts occur within the industry and govern-those risks are organizational. There are also programment resources get reallocated. New funding mechanisms riskschanges in partnerships, funding, or changesare being proposed like the Variety Use Agreement (VUA). within collaborating institutions that could impact sharedRegulatory modernization is beginning. Whats your resources and testing capacity. These are all risks we needstance on some of these proposed mechanisms for fund-to manage. ing both public and private breeding?One of our biggest risks to achieving our long-term vision, however, is operational risk. This includes land andCP: It is our vision to be leaders in public breeding and growth space to conduct our work and aging infrastruc- we will continue to be heavily engaged in that space. ture. Over the next few years, I will be devoting signifi- We work on a large array of crop kinds at the CDC and cant energy looking to renew our land infrastructure anda one-size-fits-all approach for funding may not work. to build additional growth space to ensure our programsOur strategy will be a flexible one, encouraging a bal-are successful for the next 50 years. We simply do notanced portfolio of investment from across the value chain. have enough for continued growth. Programs have beenThere is no doubt the industry is evolving and will surely added to the CDC in recent years, like the forage breedinglook different in future years, but we have seen change program managed by Bill Biligetu. We have new researchbefore, and I believe our flexible approach has allowed activity in agronomy that requires additional space.us to adapt our vision and strategies to take advantage Infrastructure is aging, and we need to expand that com- of new opportunities. Policy and modernization should ponent of the CDC so we can to keep doing what we do. be driven by the value chain and I believe the role of the CDC should be to support policy through a scientific, Germination. Whats No. 3? data-driven approach. With a lot happening, were still planning to be leaders and an important part of that value CP: Managing the CDC brand is my third priority. Thechain, and the CDC will continue to adapt to meet the CDC is a household name on the Prairies, largely becauseneeds of the industry. our varieties have made a difference to producers opera-tions. As I move forward I want to better position, com- Editors Note: This story is the first in a series of stories municate and celebrate the role of the CDC. marking the 50th anniversary of the Crop Development Centre that will run during the course of 2021. Stay tuned Germination: For you, what does the CDC brand encap- for more!sulate?40GERMINATION.CAJANUARY 2021'