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.
Jeff Jackson is general manager for SeedNet.
Regional Varieties Critical
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.”
During a panel discussion at AgSmart, Alberta Grains Director of Research Jeremy Boychyn said without strong institutions like WCI, which not only test their own varieties but also partner with other variety testing organizations, organizations like his can’t thoroughly assess the quality of a variety on the farm.
“It’s an ecosystem that tests these varieties through various trials, requiring the exchange of genetics and asking, ‘Can you test this in your area?’ This collaboration really necessitates appropriate funding for these institutions to conduct these trials effectively,” he said.
The process doesn’t start and stop with technology; it extends to how these varieties respond in all areas of Western Canada, he noted.
“We need to ensure they’re utilized to their best potential. Institutions like WCI and other breeding organizations don’t work in a vacuum or a silo. It’s not the most effective way to spend energy, research dollars, and drive towards our end goals.”
Erin Collier is business development officer for WCI.
A Chance to Pivot
When the FCDC rebranded as WCI, it signalled more than just a name change — it marked a strategic pivot toward greater agility and collaboration in Western Canada’s agricultural landscape, according to WCI Business Development Officer Erin Collier.
“The rebranding hasn’t dramatically altered our day-to-day work in the field or lab this spring and summer,” says Collier. “We’ve been doing a great job for a long time, and that hasn’t changed. But what this shift does bring is more flexibility in partnering with private organizations and other post-secondary institutions. That’s where the real excitement lies — looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Collier sees the partnerships with SaskBarley, Alberta Grains, SeedNet and Alberta Beef as a testament to the confidence these organizations have in WCI’s mission.
“It shows that our longstanding collaboration with these groups is being elevated to a new level. We’re going to receive even more input from them, which will only enhance our breeding program,” she says. “This is in addition to the core support we receive from RDAR and the Alberta government. We’re still looking to bring more voices into the mix — the more input we have, the stronger and more effective our program will become.”
Reflecting on the transition, Collier highlights the importance of flexibility.
“The key lesson we’ve learned is the value of being open to new ideas. With our rebranding, we’ve had the chance to be creative with our partnerships and funding models. Being open to different ways of doing things has brought us some incredible feedback and innovative ideas, which is exactly what we aim to achieve.”
Despite the changes, WCI’s ambitions remain unchanged.
“Our goal is still to have our barley varieties grown on most barley acres in Western Canada by 2030,” Collier says. “We’re absolutely on track to achieve that, and as we navigate these new strategic changes, we’re looking forward to not just meeting but exceeding that goal.”
Yadeta Kabeta is the barley breeder at WCI, which houses one of Western Canada’s few programs for feed and forage barley. WCI, when it began as the FCDC back in 1973, was primarily established to breed barley for feed and forage.
“Since then, our priorities have evolved slightly, with other crops like triticale being added to the mix. However, feed and forage barley remain at the heart of our program. This focus is crucial because the livestock industry is incredibly important, not just in Alberta but across Western Canada,” he says.
WCI’s barley program is dedicated to developing the feed grades needed to support this vital sector, and that’s why maintaining a focused feed and forage barley breeding program is essential. WCI also has a robust malting barley breeding program that has successfully brought several promising varieties to the market in recent years, including AB Dram, Canada’s first non-glycosidic nitrile variety.
“Barley is a naturally resilient crop, widely adapted, and suitable for sustainable production due to its relatively low input requirements. Our primary goal is to capitalize on these strengths by developing barley that is even more resilient to changing and variable environments,” he says.
“We’ve made significant progress in terms of yield, but there’s much more potential to unlock, especially in terms of quality. Barley is particularly valued in the pork industry for its unique marbling effect, and we aim to delve deeper into this quality aspect, working closely with collaborators and partners to realize this potential.”
