b'events and hybrids have gained significantoptimal cultivars for farmers. However, theresPRIVATE PLANT BREEDING traction, the private sector takes the lead.a key distinction. Private initiatives are con- FUNDING IN CANADA They dominate the scene, and theres minimalstrained by the necessity for profitability andSURGINGinvolvement from the public sector in terms ofa return on investment. This aspect is quite commercialization. clear-cut.In a major study conducted in However, the story shifts when we look atIts quite interesting to observe how this2018, total private sector research crops like pulses and wheat, particularly in thesituation often leads to diverging approaches,investment in plant breeding, western provinces. and in many aspects, its quite a bifurcation,research and varietal development In this case, its the public sector thatKantar notes.was projected to grow to holds sway, with institutions like AgricultureIt essentially boils down to the availabilityapproximately C$179 million in 2022, and Agri-Food Canada and universities takingof funds and the alignment with the demandsa 56% increase since 2012.the lead. Over time, a strong tradition ofof farmers. When theres financial support andThis investment growth is producer support, both in terms of fundinga clear demand from growers, a more appliedpredominant in: and advocacy, has emerged in the westernapproach becomes feasible, catering directly to2%part of the country for these pulse and cerealthose immediate needs. programs, Comin said. Take the example here in Hawaii with8%This funding from producers is oftenpapaya seeds. About two decades ago, a matched by government contributions, effec- widely known variety called Rainbow11%tively creating a subsidized environment forpapaya was released, and it remains highly these programs. This combination of factors,popular. Interestingly, this variety happens12% 15%along with the widespread use of farm-savedto be a hybrid, and the University of Hawaii seed, the absence of a universal seed royaltyFoundation remains a major seed producer,13%on saved seed, and a robust registration systemthereby maintaining breeding endeavors for these crops, has effectively kept the privatethrough seed sales, Kantar says.sector from gaining a significant foothold. One significant advantage we possess in On the eastern side of Canada, theresthe public sector is the ability to sustain theseCanola Corn a higher prevalence of certified seed usage,projects over the long term, he adds. A primeSoybean Pulseswhich has allowed for more private sectorexample of this is a graduate student hesWheat Barley involvement. supervising. Theyre currently in their fourth selection cycle for a project that was initiatedSource: JRG ConsultingThe private and public sectors have differentin 1981. goals, which has implications for research. Maintaining a project that doesnt gener- PUBLIC PLANT BREEDING The primary goals underlying public breed- ate direct revenue for over four decades isntCAPACITY IN THE UNITED ing efforts, which Gonzelez has observedsomething youd typically find in the privateSTATES IN CRISISacross various regions globally, revolve aroundsector.enhancing the quality of cultivars for theIn Canada, when it comes to public breed-In 2018, almost 80% of public plant predominant crops cultivated within a specificing programs, the focus tends to lean towardsbreeding programs reported annual country or ecosystem.more upstream research. This often involvesbudgets of US$400,000 or less. Public breeding programs bear a substan- whats known as pre-breeding, essentially Institutional funds, federal tial burden of social responsibility, with anresearch that happens before the final commer- competitive grants, and commodity inclination to cater to the needs of the entirecialization phase.check-off programs accounted for farming community, transcending marketIn pre-breeding, the aim is to develop traits67% of program budgets. divisions and similar factors. Ive also notedthat will eventually find their way into com-Many programs reported that that the influence of public breeding is par- mercially viable varieties. This type of work isbudget shortfalls or uncertainty ticularly pronounced in countries with lowerriskier and tends to be more expensive. Plus, aendangered or severely income levels, he says.significant part of this effort involves trainingconstrained or seriously The positive impacts span a wide spec- the next generation of researchers, includ- constrained their ability to support trum, from bolstering food availability toing students, postdoctoral fellows, and otherkey personnel, infrastructure and curbing the reliance on imports and stabilizingemerging talents in the field. operations, and access to current technology for collecting, analyzing, input prices. In essence, these programs seemOn the other hand, private breedingand applying knowledge from to have a broader, more inclusive scope. organizations have a different motivation.phenotype and genotype data on Turning to private breeding programs,Their bottom line relies on selling the varietiesplant materials in their programs.their core objectives dont fundamentally differthey develop as soon as possible.Source: Plant breeding capacity in U.S. from their public counterparts: to provideAs a result, they generally focus theirpublic institutionsNOVEMBER 2023GERMINATION.CA 49'