b'GIANT VIEWSWHY ITS AN EXCITING TIME TO WORK IN WHEATTATIANA HENRY has never seen as many people in the Denver airport as she did recently when she was finally able to travel.Thanks to video conferencing apps, leading a North American wheat breeding company during a global pan-demic was perhaps easier than it might have been in the past, but she was thankful to be able to get out on the road a bit recently when public health restrictions began to loosten up a tad.The chief executive officer of Limagrain Cereal Seeds (LCS) based in Colorado is getting back to seeing people in person, as LCS recently began the second half of 2021 with a renewed focus. LCS has completed a strategic restructuring, which Henry says frees up resources to enhance its wheat breeding programs, which include a partnership with Limagrain Cereals Research Canada (LCRC), a joint venture between Limagrain and Canterra Seeds.LCS closed its Midwest and East breeding program in January and has partnered with small grains seed producer Northern Star Integrated Services to manage LCS accounts and wheat genetics in the region. It was a difficult decision to close one of its original breeding pro- Tatiana Henry is chief executive officer of Limagrain Cereals Research grams, but the U.S. wheat market and business conditionsCanada.have changed since LCS opened in 2010, Henry notes.LCS will continue to serve farmers in the Americanics and traits faster than ever before. Were very proud to Midwest and East by bringing new varieties to marketbe able to use these tools to deliver maximum benefit to through partnerships. The regional restructuring at LCSfarmers and the agricultural industry she adds.frees up resources to enhance wheat breeding programsSuch innovation is a hallmark of the LCS and LCRC in the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains and Centralbrands. LCRC has two wheat varietiesCS Daybreak Plains. The Northern Plains breeding operation is growingand CS Accelerateincluded in Canadas Variety Use in partnership with LCRC. Agreement initiative, a value creation tool to increase Because Western Canada and the U.S. Northern Plainsplant breeding investment and innovation thats the first of share similar soil and growing conditions, LCS and LCRCits kind in the country.have joined forces to better serve both U.S. and CanadianOne of our main breeding focuses is usable traits. We farmers in the region with an expanded spring wheatalready have two major traits in our breeding program breeding program.a high-amylose trait, which offers high fibre content to The research station, based in Saskatoon, Sask., worksconsumers, and a Group 1 herbicide tolerant trade, which with LCS trial sites across Minnesota, North Dakota, Southbrings some flexibility in weed management for growers, Dakota and Montana to make variety selections bestshe says.suited for Northern Plains growers. With increasingly unpredictable growing conditions Our Canadian team, which is leading our organiza- and consumer demands for healthy products, its a great tion with the implementation of cutting-edge breedingtime to work in wheat development. techniques, is developing new varieties faster than ever before, she says.The integration of breeding tools like fast genera-tion cycling, genomic selection and robust field selectionWatch our Giant Views interview with Tatiana atgermination.ca/tatiana-henry-gvmeans farmers will benefit from advancements in genet-56GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2021'