b'some of the things being thought about, he says. There are countless possibilities, but plant breeders will still need to incorporate the lines with these changes back into their breeding programs. It also has to be remembered that there are likely to be pleiotropic effects, something that plant breeders deal with all the time. When one thing is changed various other traits are often affected, things you may not expect. A very simple example is as yield is increased, theres a negative correlation with protein concentration. The plant breeders job is to try to shift those correlations as much as possible and expand the boundaries of those relationships.Graf also sees challenges in terms of explaining breeding technologies to people who arent well informed about science and food production, and determining a new funding model for cereal breeding in Canada.Currently, there are value creationGraf was recently awarded the 2020 Canadian Plant Breeding and Genetics Award, co-sponsored by the discussions going on and I think its fairCanadian Seed Trade Association and Germination magazine. PHOTO: GEORGE CLAYTON.to say producers will be expected to contribute more towards plant breeding, says Graf. Thats not necessarily a bad thing since it could enhance the tremendous success of our publicWe need an understanding of what the breeding efforts; efforts that have beeneffects and interaction of the various genes in partnership with various producer groups. At the same time, having workedare. So, theres a huge amount of work to in private industry, I have first-handbe done, but the future is really bright.knowledge of the advantages they might bring, and developing a model that Rob Grafencourages private investment while maintaining a strong public presence is important. The question becomes, what is the right public-private balance? Howjust a couple of examples that, as plantPlant Breeding and Genetics Award, this evolves, and what Canadian cerealbreeders, we need to be ready for andco-sponsored by the Canadian Seed breeding looks like in the future, isalways be forward looking. With theTrade Association and Germination something we need to get right. technologies were using now and futuremagazine. He received the ASTech Climate change is another area wheretechnologies such as genomic selectionLeadership Foundation Award for Graf sees challenges for breeders,and gene editing, well become moreInnovation in Agricultural Science in especially as, with milder winters, theefficient in our breeding efforts, and2016, the AAFC Gold Harvest Award potential exists for new pests to movehopefully bring advancements quickerfor Innovation, Collaboration and northwards and diseases to evolve morethan ever before. Service Excellence, and was co-author quickly, but he also sees technologyTo date, Graf is the principal developerof the Canadian Society of Agronomy providing a lot of solutions as well. of 12 wheat cultivars (nine winter wheatsBest Paper in 2015. Graf has also been Since 2000, weve seen shifts in stripeand three spring wheats) as well asawarded Honorary Life Memberships by rust races that have higher temperatureco-developer of 12 other wheat andboth the Alberta Seed Growers and the optima, so theyre much more virulent,triticale cultivars.Canadian Seed Growers Associations.says Graf. Theres also the well-knownHe was recently announced as Angela Lovellthreat of Ug99 stem rust races. Those arethe recipient of the 2020 Canadian 42seed.ab.ca'