Key seed industry players SeedNet, SaskBarley and Alberta Grains are joining others around the Western Crop Innovations table.
Western Crop Innovations (WCI) is attracting some major attention from new members as more players in the seed sector come to the table to help chart a path forward for the organization.
Formerly known as the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC), WCI held its first field day at the end of July at AgSmart in Olds, Alta., where it showcased research innovations including Western Canada’s only dedicated breeding programs for triticale and feed/forage barley.
“We’ve got a veteran team that’s weathered many ups and downs over the years. My goal was to reassure them about the future, laying the groundwork for stability and confidence,” said Mark Olson, interim executive director for WCI.
Olson is continuing to work with his staff and suppliers in establishing WCI as an independent entity capable of pivoting to new opportunities. WCI is entering into preliminary discussions within the industry to expand its program, looking at not just breeding but also agronomy and extension where there are service gaps in Alberta and beyond.
“Transitioning can be challenging, but establishing strong relationships with stakeholders early on is vital,” Olson explains. “Reassuring them that we have a clear plan and vision, and that their support is indispensable, really forms the foundation of our strategy.”
Since its inception April 1, WCI has welcomed new members SaskBarley, Alberta Grains and SeedNet, with Alberta Beef Producers joining as well. These partnerships are critical to WCI’s future, he said, and more announcements can be expected soon.
As general manager of SeedNet, Jeff Jackson understands the critical importance of breeding regionally adapted varieties. He knows the consequences of losing this capability are stark for growers.
“For me, the number one consequence is probably competitiveness,” he says. “It’s a global market that Canada’s farmers deal with, and if we don’t have varieties targeted to our specific climate, pests and other threats in Western Canada, our producers could become uncompetitive on the global stage.”
SeedNet’s recent membership in WCI is a strategic move to bolster this competitiveness. In an interview at AgSmart, Jackson emphasized the broader value of this collaboration.
“It’s about ensuring that we have appropriate varieties or cultivars that perform when needed, bringing value to the entire value chain, from seed to end users,” he says. This partnership is not just about benefiting SeedNet, but is also meant to support local producers and the entire agricultural ecosystem.
Jackson sees incremental improvements to barley and triticale varieties as the key to future success for his retail clients and their farmer customers.
“Targets such as enhanced drought tolerance and yield stability, regardless of weather patterns, are what will bring significant value to producers here.”
Through strategic partnerships and a focus on targeted breeding, WCI aims to ensure that western Canadian producers remain competitive and resilient in the global marketplace, Olson says.
“We need industry support to demonstrate to our core funders, such as the Government of Alberta and Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), that we are backed by the sector,” Olson says. “This backing is essential for shaping our business and science plans going forward.”
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