PHOTO: Farmers can’t simply send Santa a wish list for new crop varieties with certain agronomic traits. Those varieties come from plant breeders who are using new technology to deliver those varieties faster.
Farming is evolving rapidly, and at the forefront of this transformation are transformative approaches to plant breeding and seed development that bring new varieties to market faster.
Russell Wildeman, a seed grower and farmer based in Clive, says it was two barley varieties that revolutionized farming in his region.
“One of the standout examples was a six-row barley variety developed specifically for silage, which addressed lodging issues in our area,” he says. “It had exceptional yield potential and resilience. Another example was a short-straw barley with heavy kernels. This variety was a breakthrough for the barley industry, taking productivity to a whole new level.”
These experiences underscore the real-world impact of innovative breeding programs that lead to new seed varieties. For farmers like Wildeman, the introduction of these varieties translates into higher yields, better crop resilience, and ultimately, more profitability.
In a recent panel discussion hosted at AgSmart in Olds by the Alberta Seed Guide, four industry experts came together to share insights on the groundbreaking technologies and collaborative efforts shaping the future of agriculture. The conversation reveals how research, technology, and on-the-ground farming practices that lead to the creation of game-changing seed varieties come together to lead to new genetics that change everything on the farm.
Genomic Selection
Jeremy Boychyn, research director for Alberta Grains, says as an agronomist, his unique position as a bridge between farmers and researchers allows him to emphasize the significance of genomic selection in revolutionizing breeding programs.
“Genomic selection allows us to identify specific DNA markers that indicate desirable traits like disease resistance, lodging reduction, or yield potential,” Boychyn said. “It speeds up the breeding process and makes it more cost-effective, which ensures that farmers get improved varieties faster.”
He also highlighted the potential of high-throughput phenotyping — using drones and artificial intelligence to gather large-scale data on how crops respond to stressors in the field. “While it’s still in development, this technology promises to further refine the selection process, making it more precise and efficient,” he added.
Enhancing Quality Traits
Research scientists Lori Oatway and Jennifer Zantinge delved deeper into the innovations driving these advancements. Oatway, crop quality research scientist at Western Crop Innovations (WCI), highlighted the transformative role of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in analyzing quality traits during early breeding stages.
“In traditional methods, assessing quality traits required expensive and time-consuming wet chemistry,” she said. “NIR spectroscopy allows us to predict the quality of barley — whether for feed, forage, or malting — using whole grain samples. This non-destructive approach has been a game changer, enabling us to make better selections earlier in the process.”
Zantinge, biotechnology research scientist for WCI, elaborated on how biotechnology is enhancing genomic predictions and marker-assisted selection.
“Our goal is to predict how a crop will perform in a farmer’s field by analyzing genetic markers in the parent lines,” she said. “We look for traits like disease resistance or yield potential and layer various methods — genomic prediction, phenotyping, and marker-assisted selection — to combine the best traits in new varieties. It’s a process of integrating massive amounts of data to create the most resilient and high-performing crops.”
Collaboration: The Key to Success
The discussion repeatedly circled back to the importance of collaboration in achieving these advancements. From farmers conducting on-farm trials to institutions like WCI rigorously testing new varieties, teamwork is the backbone of agricultural innovation.
Boychyn emphasized the need for a robust ecosystem that supports variety testing across diverse environments.
“Without strong institutions like WCI, we can’t thoroughly assess the field readiness of new varieties,” he said. “Collaboration ensures that we’re not working in silos but instead leveraging the collective expertise of researchers, breeders, and farmers.”
Wildeman agrees. He shared his experience collaborating with researchers to evaluate new barley varieties.
“We conducted silage trials on our farm, comparing several varieties for yield and quality. The data from those trials fed back into breeding programs, helping improve the varieties further.”
Funding Innovation
Boychyn also shed light on the critical role of funding in sustaining these collaborative efforts. He stressed the importance of long-term core breeding agreements that align with the broader goals of Western Canada’s agricultural ecosystem.
“Effective funding ensures that breeding institutions focus on filling specific gaps and providing value to producers,” he said. “It’s about making the best use of research dollars to drive innovation and deliver results to farmers.”
Of course, adopting new genetics on the farm is a great way to help fund variety development via certified seed purchases.
