Canada is falling behind in private wheat breeding research

[charliep]

A strange question. If a person is standing still and everyone else is moving forward, can you keep up?

[rook]

how much money is necessary for results? Dooesn't the western grain research fund get tens of millions from the railway fines? I'm not making a political comment - I'm sincerely asking what commitment is necessary to achieve results. Are they getting enough to replace the feds decreasing spending on plant breeding?

[gustgd]

Rook good question and one that WGRF gets all the time.

The railway money approx 70 million is to be spent/invested across all commodities. Everything from Canola to flax to chick peas.....
A board decision has been made by the WGRF to only spend the interest earned. Under special circumstances we might dip into principle depending on the project, maybe the phytotron in Saskatoon, the cereal research center in Winnipeg or some new seeding equipment for Lacombe, to test how varieties perform under zero till conditions.
All of the above are examples no decisions have been made.

The checkoff dollars are by legislation directed to the commodity that contributed. Wheat dollars go to wheat research barley to barley.

[gustgd]

On how much is necessary, is a much tougher question.

As I understand it, it's a numbers game the more crosses you make on a parent line the more chance you have of getting something that you desire.
Like the song says all it takes is time and money.

That being said, who puts up the money?

If farmers don't/won't put up dollars yet still want varieties to allow us to remain competitive in Wheat production.
Then my feeling is that we allow the private sector in as well.
The private sector needs ROI or they go to Australia, France, Argentina, RUK........... pick your export competitor.

Not to say I have any or all the answers, and someone please correct me where I'm wrong but stronger Plant breeders rights is one place to start.

Now how to keep a farmers right to save seed.