b'WE NEED TO ACT NOW TO SAFEGUARD PLANT BREEDINGAs Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadas role in variety development evolves, experts agree the time has come to turn talk into decisive action.Marc ZienkiewiczAGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA (AAFC) and its historical role in deliver-ing field-ready cultivars is evolvinga transition that has ignited conversation about the need for a solid strategy to ensure the long-term health of plant breeding in Canada.That was the major takeaway from a panel discussion held at the Interprovincial Seed Grower Meeting in Calgary, Alta. on Nov. 26. The meeting was hosted this year by the Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers (ABCSG). The panel, facilitated by Seed World Canada editor Marc Zienkiewicz,Seed World Canadas Marc Zienkiewicz (far right) facilitated a panel discussion at the Interprovincial Seed Growers meeting in Calgary Nov. 26 on the topic of the future of plant featured six experts from various areas ofbreeding. Panelists were (from left): Robert Graf, Curtis Pozniak, Rickey Yada, Jodi Souter, Holly the plant breeding sector: Mayer and Francois Eudes. Franois Eudes, who holds dual roles at AAFC as research, development, and technology director and national sciencethe way we conduct science has to adaptproviding land and infrastructure for lead for breeding innovation and cropto challenges farmers face, emergingvariety trials to developing innovations, germplasm development technologies, and shifts in the seedshe said. With the resources we have, weHolly Mayer, director of sciencesector. want to have the greatest impact for the partnerships at AAFC Eudes outlined AAFCs efforts alongsector. This means working to be more ofRickey Yada, dean of agricultural,what he calls a breeding continuum,an enabler of all players in the market and life, and environmental sciences at theintegrating emerging disciplines likeless of a competitor.University of Albertagenomics, gene editing, and artificialMayer also pointed to the realities ofCurtis Pozniak, director of the Cropintelligence alongside traditional genet- government programs like AgriScience. Development Centre at the University ofics. While this investment in upstreamThis reliance on a federal government Saskatchewan science promises plenty of innovation,program and a five-year funding cycle isJodi Souter, Nuffield scholar andit also signals a shift in AAFCs role infar from ideal, she said, given the time founder of J4 Agri-Science delivering field-ready cultivars. required to develop a variety. Robert Graf, retired AAFC winterWere committed to plant breeding, wheat breeder and science advisor forEudes reassured the audience. But weThe Cost of InactionSeedNet recognize were not the only science pro- Graf, who during his time with AAFC vider. Collaboration with other players isbred some of Canadas best-known Evolving Roles in Plant Breeding essential to ensure innovations reach thewinter wheat varieties, painted a stark Eudes started off by emphasizing thatmarket efficiently. picture of what could happen if Canada AAFCs role in plant breeding is evolv- Mayer highlighted systemic vul- fails to establish a robust system to fill ing.nerabilities that necessitate AAFCsthe gap left by AAFCs shifting role. Weve been in this business for moreevolution.Canada has been a bright spot in than 100 years, Eudes explained. ButAAFC plays a critical role, fromwheat yield increases globally, he said, 14 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA JANUARY 2025'