The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition has signed a new five-year, $11.8 million agreement to continue wheat breeding programs at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC) through 2029.
The coalition is a collaboration between the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and Alberta Grains.
The funding for 2025 through 2029 will support the CDC’s breeding of new Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS), Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR), Canadian Western Amber Durum (CWAD) and Canadian Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat cultivars, with strong agronomics and improved resistance to common diseases such as the wheat rusts, common bunt and fusarium head blight.
“This renewed investment by the CWRC will directly benefit western Canadian farmers by supporting the development of wheat varieties with improved yields, stronger disease resistance and better adaptation to our growing conditions,” noted Dean Hubbard, CWRC chair, who farms near Claresholm, AB. “Farmer-funded breeding programs like this ensure that producers have access to innovative, high-performing varieties that are in demand and help make their farms more productive and sustainable.”
The new agreement includes a $2-million increase in funding compared with the previous five-year agreement.
The CWRC also has breeding agreements with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the University of Manitoba and the University of Alberta.
