How Farmers Can Help Keep Wheat Innovation Alive: Listen to Our CrossRoads Panel Discussion

Feb 04, 2025

The funding model for plant breeding in Canada is at a crossroads. The impending withdrawal of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) from commercializing field-ready cultivars has sparked a conversation about how to fill the resulting gap without losing decades of investment in infrastructure and expertise.

That was the premise of a panel discussion held today at the CrossRoads Crop Conference in Edmonton and facilitated by Alberta Seed Guide editor Marc Zienkiewicz. Panelists were Todd Hyra, western business manager for SeCan; Stuart Smyth, agricultural economist at the University of Saskatchewan; Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) chair and farmer Dean Hubbard; and SeedNet science advisor and retired AAFC wheat breeder Rob Graf.

Key points included AAFC’s shift towards upstream research, the need for collaboration with universities and private sectors, and the importance of maintaining a robust innovation pipeline. Metrics showed that 75% of wheat varieties come from AAFC, with 21-25 million acres of wheat production in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The discussion emphasized the need for new funding models, public-private partnerships, and the role of farmers in advocating for continued investment in agricultural research.

“If the federal government truly wants to exit [the development of field-ready cultivars], what fills that gap? How do we ensure we don’t lose a century’s worth of resources and investment? This is about having meaningful discussions with the federal government and industry stakeholders to collaboratively determine where responsibilities begin and end,” Hyra said.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.