b'PRAIRIE CROP INNOVATION MEETS RESEARCH CUTS AT PGDC MEETINGSNew wheat, barley, mustard and pulse varieties show strong gains, but scientists warn the loss of key testing sites could weaken the system used to evaluate them.By Marc ZienkiewiczPROMISING NEW CROP varieties offering higher yields, improvedThe Lacombe environment is unique. Thats a huge geogra-disease resistance and better processing traits moved throughphy thats not reflectedand we cant reliably predict perfor-the Western variety recommendation system at the Prairiemance in that region.Grain Development Committee (PGDC) meetings in Banff,Sites such as Lacombe, Indian Head and Scott each repre-Alta., in March. sent different soil types, rainfall patterns and disease pressures.But as scientists evaluate the next generation of Prairie cropWithout trials representing those environments, predicting genetics, many say the infrastructure needed to properly testhow new varieties will perform becomes more difficult.those varieties is increasingly under threat.Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research cutsMalting Barley Innovations Aim to Improve Beer Flavour including closures of key testing siteswere a recur- Similar concerns about testing capacity are emerging in the ring concern across multiple recommending committees.barley sector.Researchers warn that losing sites such as Lacombe, Alta.,The Prairie Recommending Committee for Oats and Barley Scott, Sask., and Indian Head, Sask., could leave major produc- (PRCOB) reviewed several barley candidates, including varie-tion zones without reliable data for evaluating new crop lines. ties designed to improve the flavour stability of beer. One of the most notable is a LOX-less malting barley, which lacks the Wheat, Rye and Triticale Candidates Under Review lipoxygenase enzyme linked to flavour deterioration during beer For the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye andstorage.Triticale (PRCWRT), the immediate task was reviewing 17 candidate lines across several crop classes.Dana Maxwell, chair of the committee, said the lines included a spring wheat line, three fall rye lines, one winter wheat line, two durum wheats, one Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR), four Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) and two triti-cale lines from Western Crop Innovations.The candidates offer improvements in yield potential, forage performance and disease resistance.But Maxwell said discussions about new genetics are increasingly tied to questions about how the Prairie testing system will function if research stations close. The Prairie Recommending Committee for Oats and Barley (PRCOB) We really need to figure out. Can we pull some extra sitesreviewed several barley candidates, including varieties designed to from anywhere? Can anyone contribute more sites? she said.improve the flavour stability of beer.How are we going to structure things going forward? Its a fresher flavour profile, improved flavour stability, Those conversations may eventually lead to changes in howbecause LOX-less lines have reduced staling during storage of registration trials are organized. beer, said PRCOB chair Marta Izydorczyk.Do we use this as an opportunity to consider restructuringFor brewers shipping beer long distances or exporting inter-some of the registration tests, to put things together in a differ- nationally, that added stability can be important.ent way and leverage what we have? Maxwell said. Another candidate has been bred specifically for irrigated growing conditions, where barley can achieve higher yield Unique Environments Difficult to Replace potential.One major challenge, she said, is that research sites representThree additional malting barley lines were also considered, distinct environments that cannot easily be replicated else- offering improvements in yield, standability and lodging where. resistance.16 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA MARCH 2026'