The coalition will invest $2.7 million over five years
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC) recently received a $2.7-million investment from the Canadian Barley Research Coalition (CBRC).
The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), Alberta Barley and Manitoba Crop Alliance are members of the CBRC, and the investment spans five years.
“On the barley side, the CDC is one of our main breeders. We definitely need them in the mix. Some of the main varieties we use today came out of the CDC,” said Brent Johnson, the vice chair of SaskBarley and a board member of the CBRC.
The CDC will use the funding to develop new varieties, said Johnson.
“We're going to continue to see top-of-the-line genetics in barley. That's going to help guarantee we continue to stay competitive on the quality side. Our malts are where we really shine in Western Canada. We have some of the best malt in the world and we have to keep pushing that envelope all the time,” he told Farms.com.
The CDC has produced good results for western Canadian growers and continued funding for this public breeder is a step in the right direction, said Johnson.
“As long as we can find ways to fund this program, and others, robustly, we'll continue to have what we've always had – some of the best genetics in the world,” said Johnson.
Photo credit: CNH Industrail photo