b'PLANT BREEDING FUNDINGFunding Future VarietiesHow do plant breeders access the funds needed to bring new crop varieties to your fields?THERES A LOT OFeffort that goesmay seem simple, theres a lot more that goes2022, a 56 per cent increase since 2012. In into making a new crop variety, from theinto dollar allocation than meets the eye. Decision factors influencing new variety research scientists who toil away for yearsWe are heavily investing in breedingadoption in western Canada by the seed perfecting the traits to the teams whoprograms because we think that breedingindustry, by Rim Lassoued and Stuart J. do field trials to the seed growers whois the future and the solution for so manySmyth, they detail this investment growth multiply the seed and companies thatproblems. Through breeding we canis predominantly in canola at 52 per cent, market the new varieties to farmers. All ofmodify the varieties; we can make themsoybeans at 13 per cent, wheat at 12 per these components are important but cantdisease resistant; we can improve thecent, corn at 11 per cent, pulses at eight per happen if there isnt money available. agronomic performance, Nasima Junejo,cent and barley at two per cent.In Canada, plant breeding fundingresearch manager for Alberta Grains, saysUsing modern breeding technologies, comes from a mishmash of sources. Publicin a phone interview. the private sector invests in most new breeders at government research stationsThe 2018 Snapshot of Private Innovationvarieties of canola, corn, and soybean as and academic institutions receive fundsInvestment in Canadas Seed Sector fromhybrid crops and (or) patent protected from crop checkoff dollars and governmentthe Canadian Seed Trade Association,traits, which affords them effective funding. Private companies reinvest profitsprojected total research investment inintellectual property rights. The public from sales and investor dollars into newplant breeding, research, and varietalsector heavily invests in cereal and pulse varieties. While the formula for fundingdevelopment to grow to $179 million bycrops protected by (Plant Breeders Rights) Research plots at the Olds College Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alta. are toured.PHOTO: ALBERTA GRAINS16seed.ab.ca'