The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) invited stakeholders directly engaged in wheat and barley plant breeding in Western Canada to gather in Winnipeg, MB to co-develop a shared vision of the optimal future of Western Canadian wheat and barley plant breeding.
The workshop was led by the CWRC and facilitated by Synthesis. The gathered stakeholders agree that wheat and barley plant breeding is at an inflection point and now is the time to think big about the future for wheat and barley in Western Canada.
All participants agree on the following shared vision for the future:
The Western Canadian wheat and barley plant breeding system is thriving and innovation driven, where collaboration and competition coexist to attract diverse investment and provide farmers with choice in superior, field-ready varieties that meet the needs of our end use customers.
The Western Canadian wheat and barley plant breeding system is thriving and innovation driven, where collaboration and competition coexist to attract diverse investment and provide farmers with choice in superior, field-ready varieties that meet the needs of our end use customers.
The path forward to achieving this shared vision is still fluid but the convened stakeholders identified nine guiding principles that can be used to evaluate options and decisions that lead the sector towards the future.
The optimal wheat and barley plant breeding system will:
Deliver Superior Field-Ready Varieties
Deliver superior field-ready varieties that provide choice to support the market and meet the needs of end use customers.
Technology Driven Innovation
Have the capacity to integrate the most advanced breeding technologies, testing/screening methods and data science to enable efficient delivery of improved varieties.
Leverages Farmer Investments
Recognizes and leverages the long-term investments made by farmers.
Enables Competition & Collaboration
Enables competition and collaboration to drive innovation and farmer choice.
Provides Stable Long-Term Investment
Provides reliable, long-term public and private investment in plant breeding programs.
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