PGDC recommends new pulse varieties for registration

Mar 08, 2023

The Prairie Grain Development Committee held its annual meeting in Banff last week.

Committees evaluated potential new breeding variety lines and recommended the best of the best for registration.

This year the Pulse and Special Crops Committee recommended 16 new lentil lines, 13 pea lines, 5 faba bean and 5 dry bean lines for registration.

Dr. Glen Hawkins, a Senior Manager and Agronomist with DL Seeds, chairs that committee and says there's some great potential coming forward.

Out of the new breeding lines recommended for registration, Limagrain put forward twelve new lentil lines and five pea lines.

Limagrain registered six small red lentils, three large green, one French green, one extra small red and one small green along with five pea lines one green and four yellow.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.