Canada is falling behind in private wheat breeding research
The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is calling on the Canadian government to create a more favourable investment climate for wheat breeding research in Canada. The decision by Monsanto to invest in a public/private wheat breeding company in Australia is a clear sign that Australia has a more attractive research investment climate. If our country doesn’t attract private investment to specifically address Canadian climate and production challenges, then Canadian farmers are at risk of falling behind our international competitors.
“While we have strong public breeding programs in Canada, financed in good measure by farmers, we have very little private sector investment in wheat research,” says Gerrid Gust, Chair of the Wheat Growers. “The Wheat Growers believe we need a good mix of public and private research to ensure Canadian farmers remain competitive in our wheat production.”
The Wheat Growers note that Canada does not have an attractive investment climate for the development of private wheat research. A 2007 survey by the Canadian Seed Trade Association noted that only 6% of private dollars invested in seed research in Canada was earmarked for all cereals. Investment in canola, soybeans and corn far outstrips investment in wheat and other cereals.
The threat posed by Bill C-474 is placing a further chill on private investment in Canada. If passed, Bill C-474 would move Canada away from a science-based regulatory approval system, and politicize a process that is currently founded on objective health and environmental risk assessments.
Monsanto’s announcement in Australia is focused primarily on the development of varieties that will improve agronomic traits including yield, nitrogen use efficiency and drought tolerance.
“Gaining access to new technologies would allow us to boost production per acre and farm our land in a more sustainable way,” says Gust, who also serves as the WCWGA’s representative to the board of the Western Grains Research Foundation. “Our agronomic challenges may be different than those faced in Australia, but regardless, to keep pace we need to make sure research dollars are being spent here.”
The Wheat Growers also note that Canada’s legislation regarding intellectual property rights on new seed varieties needs to be updated. Canada has not ratified UPOV 91, the international convention to help protect against the theft of the innovation efforts of public and private plant breeders. The Wheat Growers urge the government to enact legislation ratifying the convention, including provisions that maintain the farmer’s ability to save seed for their own use.
“Many developed countries, including Australia, have modernized their Plant Breeders Rights, says Gust. “Canada’s failure to bring our legislation in line with other advanced countries is contributing to the lack of investment in private research in cereal grains in Canada.”
