BY: Kyle Larkin, Executive Director, Grain Growers of Canada
In Manitoba, the diversity of crops and the ability for farmers to choose varieties that best suit their operations are vital to maintaining a thriving agricultural sector. At the heart of this is plant breeding and variety development, which enable farmers to benefit from resilient crops and often allow for cost-savings or increased revenue opportunities. Innovations like soybeans with improved oil profiles, early maturing varieties for shorter growing seasons, and increased yield are key examples of how plant breeding helps farmers adapt to challenges while boosting their productivity.
Despite the clear benefits, investment in plant breeding innovation has been on the decline for years. This decline threatens the ability to develop new crop varieties that can meet the evolving needs of farmers. For Manitoba’s growers, continuous innovation is essential to maintaining competitiveness in global markets, sustaining crop diversity and maintaining productive farms. However, with fewer resources being directed toward this research, the potential for advancement is stifled.
To address this, there’s a pressing need for better support for both public and private plant breeding programs. Previously, public funding played a significant role in agricultural innovation, but the responsibility has now shifted more heavily onto farmers, with many paying 50 to 70 per cent of what was once covered through public programs. Even for programs that do exist, funding criteria is becoming increasingly narrow, excluding crucial projects that could help growers. For example, while pulses naturally fix nitrogen and enhance soil health, more research is required to develop disease-resistant varieties that can thrive and provide these benefits more effectively.
Forming public-private partnerships is critical to fostering innovation, but challenges remain. These partnerships, which are essential for developing new crop varieties, are hindered by short five-year funding cycles, making long-term planning difficult. Government involvement in creating sustainable, long-term partnerships is necessary to ensure consistent progress.
Challenges in plant breeding innovation extend beyond funding. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) recent guidance on gene editing, though a positive step for plant breeding innovation, took more than three years to finalize. This regulatory delay cost the industry valuable time and missed opportunities for progress. In 2018, the University of Saskatchewan cited that regulatory hurdles pushed almost one-third of plant breeders to consider moving their research outside Canada, a concerning trend that highlights the need for more streamlined and supportive processes.
If Manitoba’s agricultural sector is to continue benefiting from plant breeding innovation, it’s crucial that governments understand the benefits and prioritize it. By doing so, Manitoba farmers will have access to the diverse crop varieties they need to maintain their competitive edge. At the same time, we’ll continue to work diligently with our industry counterparts to advocate for better funding and program design to ensure Manitoba growers have access to the next generation of varieties.