12 GERMINATION.CA JULY 2018 LAST NOVEMBER, at the semi-annual Grains Roundtable meeting, the Value Creation Working Group (VCWG) put forward two models for stimulating investment in cereal breeding for review by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). AAFC and CFIA are now carrying out more detailed economic analyses of the two models as well as their fea- sibility and practicality from a regulatory standpoint. To date, working group members are waiting on a response from the government, including its next steps toward a consultation and regulatory change process for future amendments to the Plant Breeders’ Rights regulations under CFIA’s Forward Regulatory Plan. Meanwhile, VCWG co-chairs Erin Armstrong, Canterra Seeds’ director of industry and regulatory affairs, and Tom Steve, the Alberta Wheat Commission’s general manager, continue to present information about value creation and the two proposed models at industry meetings, where they are also gathering additional input from all stakeholders. Time to Act It’s been two years since the working group was established, and after extensive consultations with all industry stakehold- ers, Steve says there’s a strong case for more private invest- ment in wheat breeding. Maintaining the status quo may, in the long run, compromise Canada’s competitive edge. “There is a need for some form of readjustment in value creation in Western Canada, in particular, because there isn’t currently a strong business case for outside investment in wheat breeding. Ultimately, we’re trying to WHENITCOMES TOCREATING VALUEIN CEREALS,DOING NOTHINGISNOT ANOPTION Kari Belanger