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AAFC moved to close the Indian Head Research Farm in January. SaskSeed asked for a reversal. Then it tried something else. In January 2026, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada confirmed it would eliminate 665 positions and close seven research facilities. Two of them are in Saskatchewan, at Indian Head and Scott. Chris Barker, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Seed Growers’ Association, says the loss at Indian Head was specific rather than symbolic. He says the site represented 33 per cent of Saskatchewan farmland and that the AAFC seed increase unit operated there, meaning any AAFC variety moving through the pipeline for Western Canadian farmers was at risk of not actually being produced. SaskSeed called for the closures to be reversed in February. Then it did something less common. It brought the provincial ministry a plan and volunteered to take on work nobody had assigned it. In July, Ottawa and Saskatchewan signed a memorandum of understanding covering the two farms. Barker is careful about what that does and does not mean: the stations look likely to continue under new management, but there is no final plan and the disposal has not been withdrawn. Nick Petruic, President of SaskSeed and a seed grower at Avonlea, Saskatchewan, draws a wider lesson from the past six months. He would rather be part of a change than watch one, and he argues that the price of admission is putting your hand up and taking on the work. Topics covered: - Why the AAFC research farm closures at Indian Head and Scott put public variety multiplication at risk, not just field research - How the Saskatchewan Seed Growers’ Association moved from a public statement to an operating proposal for the sites - What the July memorandum of understanding between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan actually commits to Chris Barker, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Seed Growers’ Association Nick Petruic, President, Saskatchewan Seed Growers’ Association On The Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture. #OnTheBrink #PlantBreeding #CanadianAgriculture #AgResearch 📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on the latest in the seed industry!   📌   📌 About Seed World Group (SWG): Seed World Group is a handpicked team of strategists, storytellers and marketers. We’ve been serving the seed industry since 1991 and today have staff spread across North America Europe, LATAM and beyond. With our two divisions — Seed World CREATE and Seed World Media – we are able to deliver highly focused consulting, strategic solutions, digital tools and content shared via a suite of global seed sector media channels. Our goal is to connect people to people across the seed sector, locally, regionally and globally. Interested in learning more? Visit www.seedworldgroup.com. ▬ Website & Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬ ► Website: https://seedworldgroup.com/ ► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seedworldgroup ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/seedworldgroup ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeedWorldGroup
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When Action is the Only Option | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 16

The closure of the Indian Head Research Farm drew objections from across the sector in January. None of them changed the outcome. Chris Barker and Nick Petruic of SaskSeed stopped writing letters and offered to help run the place instead.
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Season 2
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Where the Conversation Goes Next | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 1

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Where the Conversation Goes Next | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 2

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PBR: Canada’s Hidden Innovation Engine | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 3

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Made For This Land | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 4

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Breed Local, Grow Better | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 5

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Is Canada’s Ag Advantage Slipping? | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 6

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Breeding Canada’s Future | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 7

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National Investment, Regional Success | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 8

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Season 1
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Canada is On the Brink. Let’s Talk About It | On the Brink Season 1: Episode 1

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Canadian Conditions Need Made-for-Canada Solutions | On the Brink Season 1: Episode 2

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Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future | On the Brink Season 1: Episode 3

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The End of the Status Quo | On the Brink Season 1: Episode 4

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An Investment In Every Canadian | On the Brink Season 1: Episode 5

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Producing More With Less | On the Brink Season 1: Episode 6

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What’s at Stake in Every Slice | On the Brink Season 1: Episode 7

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Finding Canada’s Way: Rebuilding the Variety Marketplace | On the Brink Season 1: Episode 8

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On the Brink: the conversation shaping the future of Canadian agriculture.

Plant breeding in Canada is at a crossroads. Public and private investment are under pressure, and there’s growing debate about what comes next.

On the Brink brings together perspectives from across the agricultural value chain. No single viewpoint. No simple answers. Just the honest, informed, open conversation Canada needs to have about sustaining innovation in Canadian agriculture.

Watch the episodes. Participate in the conversation. Nominate a voice that deserves to be heard. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

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