Alberta Grains, in collaboration with the provincial government and industry partners, has announced substantial inaugural funding to support Western Crop Innovations (WCI) in advancing agricultural research and innovation tailored for the Western Prairies.
Alberta Grains’ contributions of $375,000 will support WCI through the balance of the current fiscal year (through March 31, 2025). Alberta Grains will enter further discussions with WCI to create a long-term funding agreement.
The announcement was made by Alberta Grains’ chair Tara Sawyer during the Alberta Grains and Alberta Small Brewers Association joint event “Combine to Craft,” held on July 10 at Cabin Brewing Company during the Calgary Stampede.
“This investment in Western Crop Innovations reflects Alberta Grains’ commitment to supporting sustainable agricultural practices right here in Alberta and enhancing productivity for Alberta farmers,” said Michael Flynn, Alberta Grains’ executive director. “By collaborating with WCI, we are accelerating the development of innovative crop varieties and breeding technology that address the evolving needs of our agriculture sector.”
Western Crop Innovations (WCI), established in 2024 as a not-for-profit organization, builds upon a rich 50-year legacy of pioneering crop development. Formerly known as the Field Crop Development Centre under Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, WCI has evolved into a dynamic entity dedicated to developing feed and forage barley, malting barley and triticale varieties optimized for Alberta’s agricultural conditions.
Operating on a core land base of 400 acres in Lacombe, WCI’s team of researchers conducts rigorous evaluations across 40,000 plots annually. Their breeding program integrates cutting-edge technologies such as molecular markers and NIR spectroscopy to identify superior varieties with enhanced disease resistance, high yields, and superior end-use quality characteristics. WCI is particularly dedicated to developing malting barley varieties that meet the exacting standards of end-users like maltsters and brewers.
Jeremy Boychyn, director of research, agronomy and extension at Alberta Grains, emphasized the benefits of the partnership. “Through our collaboration with WCI, we are leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, research approaches and long-standing expertise of the WCI staff to drive meaningful advancements in crop genetics and, breeding. This partnership enables us to deliver farmer-focused solutions that will bring value to the farm gate across Alberta.”
WCI Announces New CFO
Lauren Huolt is joining WCI as the company’s first chief financial officer, effective Aug. 6, 2024. Huolt dedicated the last seven years to financial management positions with Vision Credit Union, serving the past two years as VP of finance based in Camrose. Vision is a rural-based credit union with a specialized focus on agricultural members. Prior to this, she was an auditor with Grant Thornton LLP.
Huolt is also an active volunteer, serving as vice-chair of Emerging Leaders of Alberta and as walk coordinator with the ALS Society of Alberta.
“The addition of Lauren in this key role demonstrates how serious WCI is about establishing a sustainable and responsible enterprise serving the needs of Western Canadian farmers through research and innovation”, said Mark Olson, interim executive director for WCI.
“Her experience in all aspects of financial management will put her front and centre with myself and the interim board in communicating with our stakeholders. Working together with our research project accountant Curtis Marquart, our financial reporting will be in excellent hands.“
WCI was incorporated as a federally registered not for profit April 1, 2024, and has assumed all the assets of the previous Field Crop Development Centre based at Olds College. It has offices, a research farm with 400 acres of land, and indoor growth facilities in Lacombe, AB. Its core activities are malting barley, feed and forage barley, and triticale varietal development.
