Canadian Farm Groups Advocate for National Plant Breeding Strategy
Agricultural organizations across Canada are calling for the establishment of a national plant breeding strategy to ensure predictable funding and advance crop development. Grain Farmers of Ontario, along with several other producer and industry groups, have released a joint vision titled 'A National Plant Breeding Strategy Must Work for Every Crop.' This initiative seeks to address the diverse needs of various crops, regions, and farmers. The groups emphasize that plant breeding is crucial for Canadian agriculture, as new crop varieties can take over a decade to develop from research to commercial production. These breeding programs are vital for creating varieties with improved pest and disease resistance, greater tolerance to changing weather conditions, enhanced productivity and quality, and the ability to meet evolving market demands. Public investment is deemed particularly important for crops where private investment may be limited due to market size or royalty returns, such as oats, food-grade soyb...
