GrainsWest Winter 2021

Winter 2021 grainswest.com 49 BY LEE HART Aaron Beattie, associate professor and head of the University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre barley breeding program, said the facility's work aims to delivers greater return per acre and greater profit for farmers. Photo:Courtesyof theUniversityofSaskatchewan The CBRC’s creation mirrors that of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition, launched in 2017. “Coalition board members, representing the three provincial barley commissions will meet to discuss and set research prior- ities that apply to, or benefit, all barley growers,” said Comin. “And they will also consider any research priorities that are a con- cern on a regional level. A specific issue may be more relevant to Manitoba growing conditions than to Alberta or Saskatchewan, for example. The coalition can help determine priorities that will be passed along to plant breeders as well as to co-ordinate the ap- plication of each commission’s check-off dollars to these projects.” A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP CDC has also received long-standing support from industry play- ers such as BASF, which celebrates its 25th year of a partnership with the research facility. “It has been a great privilege to work in partnership with CDC to deliver some of the most innovative developments in agricul- ture over the last quarter-century,” said Jeff Bertholet, technical service manager for BASF in Saskatoon, SK. During its relationship with the university and CDC, the compa- ny invested more than $12 million. Primarily derived from royalties for new varieties, the money has been used to support research and development of crop genetics and commercialization of new pulse and wheat varieties over the last two decades, said Bertholet. Over the years, the CDC breeding program developed a new platform for herbicide-tolerant lentils, marketed as Clearfield lentils, as well as spring wheat and durum varieties tolerant to imidazolinone herbicides, more commonly referred to as imi-tol- erant crop varieties. “We have invested in these trait develop- ments, which put important new tools in the hands of farmers,” said Bertholet. “Which is certainly a win-win for all involved.” With the commercialization of these herbicide-tolerant crops, Nutrien holds the marketing rights to wheat and durum varieties, while the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers holds the rights to lentil varieties. Bertholet said this “ongoing strategic partnership” will support further research into the development of herbicide tolerance in crop varieties and will look at improved disease management in pulse crops. He also points out that as a leading agricultural school, the university’s College of Agriculture has been an important source of bright young students that BASF has hired as summer interns. Many have also been hired in full-time positions after graduation. “It is important for ongoing research and development to have well-established relationships with all sectors of the agriculture industry,” said Beattie. “Along with assurance of funding to sup- port research, the connection also provides important feedback to plant breeders so their efforts are meeting the needs and speci- fications of producers and processors.”