A new partnership between Alberta Grains and Western Crop Innovations is aiming to secure the future of barley breeding in the province at a time of financial uncertainty for public agricultural research in Canada.
Announced at the Alberta Grains Regional Meeting in Lacombe on Nov. 20, the organizations have signed a three-year Breeding and Technician Chair agreement worth $600,000. The funding will support two key positions — a lead breeder and a senior technician — focused on feed barley variety development.
For decades, cereal breeding in Canada has relied on public funding, but that model is now in flux, raising major questions about the future of plant breeding, and how farmers will access improved genetics, said an Alberta Grains statement on Monday.
Western Crop Innovations — formerly the Field Crop Development Centre — represents one answer. After transitioning out of the public sector in April 2024, WCI now operates as a not-for-profit supported by both private and public partners. Board Chair Kevin Bender says this shift required more than just a change in structure; it required a new funding approach capable of supporting highly specialized research roles.
That is where industry groups such as Alberta Grains are being asked to step up.
“One hurdle we had to overcome was finding sustainable ways to fund salaries — particularly for senior research and leadership roles,” Bender said.
For Alberta Grains, its investment reflects both responsibility and opportunity, the statement said.
“Our partnership with WCI is a strategic investment in the future of barley breeding in Alberta,” said Alberta Grains Board Chair Scott Jespersen. He emphasized the funding helps ensure farmers continue to benefit from research that tackles yield, disease pressures, and other challenges in the field.
