A new research partnership between CANTERRA SEEDS and Limagrain aims to bring wheat genetics to the forefront in Western Canada.
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CANTERRA SEEDS and French-genetics breeder Limagrain are partnering to bring higher yielding wheat varieties to farmers. Limagrain Cereals Research Canada, a new business venture headquartered in Saskatoon, Sask., will focus on wheat breeding and specialize in varieties best suited for the prairies._x000D_
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“This venture will bring Limagrain’s expertise in plant genetics to producers through CANTERRA’s long-standing presence in Canadian agriculture,” says David Hansen, CANTERRA SEEDS president and CEO. “CANTERRA will hold a minority equity position in the new company.”_x000D_
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According to Hansen, the passage the Agricultural Growth Act has opened the doors to international joint ventures._x000D_
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“By passing Bill C-18 and ratifying UPOV 91, Canada is finally on a level playing field with the rest of the international plant breeding community,” Hansen says. “For CANTERRA SEEDS, this has thrown open the door to new opportunities that we can pass on to our customers.”_x000D_
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Bruno Carette, CEO of Limagrain Field Seeds, says the passing of Bill C-18 was a clear signal that Canada will support genetic progress in breeding, particularly with wheat._x000D_
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“This offers wheat, one of the most poorly funded crops in terms of research, a new opportunity for yield gains along with an improved tool box of genetic qualities,” Carette says. “The remedy for wheat is to increase research and breeding, and we plan to bring genetic gains to this complex genome as a result of this partnership.”_x000D_
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According to Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, this new venture comes as no surprise now that Bill C-18 has passed. This is only the beginning for future genetic collaboration and partnerships that further Canada’s cereal breeding work, he says._x000D_
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A Vision of New Varieties_x000D_
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Erin Armstrong, who was named CEO of LCRC, says the goal is to bring the first new wheat varieties to market within five years. “We expect to produce a steady stream of new varieties,” she says. “The first new varieties could include material which has been in CANTERRA SEEDS’ field trial evaluation program for the past three years.”_x000D_
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Armstrong notes that Canada Western Hard Red Spring Wheat, Canada Prairie Spring Wheat and Canada Western Red Winter Wheat are three areas of opportunity that LCRC will focus its genetic research initially._x000D_
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Beyond this, she fully expects their research capabilities to expand into other varieties. “While we are at the very early stages, the intent is, over time, to also work on durum, barley, rye and triticale and possibly other crops as well,” she says. However, the specific crop types will largely depend on the direction of agriculture in Western Canada._x000D_
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Currently, LCRC is preparing to staff a senior breeder as soon as possible and within the next couple of years reach full-staff capacity._x000D_
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Carette says Limagrain will support the partnership through germplasm, its technology platform and its long-standing knowledge of global and local wheat markets._x000D_
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The company’s material will be trialed in Western Canada through both internal company sites as well as collaborations with others in the industry. Over time, Armstrong expects the number and distribution of trial sites to grow._x000D_
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“This growth will ensure comprehensive testing and the ability to select lines for advancement and commercialization based on a thorough and sound understanding of trial performance in the various regions of Western Canada,” Armstrong explains._x000D_
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LCRC will also use GM tools to further its understanding of and research in wheat. “The understanding we develop through research done with GM technologies can be applied to the development of non-GM products,” Armstrong explains, noting that at this time the public is not ready for the application of GM technology in wheat products._x000D_
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“While our breeding efforts will take time, we do have a head start with our previous work together over the past three years,” Carette says._x000D_
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Armstrong adds that LCRC will operate its business with the same principal as both partner companies. “LCRC will collaborate and partner with other breeding programs, both public and private, in Canada and around the world,” she says. “The goal has always been to bring the best research, the most innovative technologies and traits, and the best germplasm from partnerships, new and existing, including_x000D_
Limagrain’s global resources, and deliver those benefits to the western Canadian farmer.”_x000D_
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CANTERRA SEEDS’ collaboration with Limagrain is part of its long-term growth strategy to offer a full portfolio of products. “We want to be engaged through the entire value chain in seed development,” Hansen says._x000D_
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Growing Partnerships_x000D_
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CANTERRA SEEDS, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Alberta Wheat Commission also announced a first-of-its-kind public/private/producer partnership in wheat breeding._x000D_
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The goal of the partnership is to advance the development and commercialization of Canadian prairie spring wheat varieties._x000D_
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“This partnership … will support Canadian wheat producers in the global marketplace by helping them maximize their commercial and trade opportunities,” Ritz says._x000D_
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Hansen adds that “This partnership speaks to the level of co-operation that exists in our industry, both public and private. The Agricultural Growth Act set the stage for this, and I fully expect farmers will see cascading benefits of the modernization of industry regulations through new partnerships like this.”
