Major Rapeseed Conference Happening In Saskatoon

Jul 06, 2015

Saskatoon is internationally known as an important canola research centre, so it makes sense to have the 14th International Rapeseed Congress in our city.

The event is held every four years and has not been in Saskatoon since 1991. Congress co-chair Wilf Keller says more than 900 people from 32 countries are registered.

"About three-quarters of them are scientists working directly in the field or laboratory or managing science. Then you would have government managers, industry representatives and industry managers, as well as people involved with (government) regulatory offices."

Keller says there will be 175 scientific presentations and more than 350 research posters on display covering a wide variety of topics.

"From genetics and crop variety development, to dealing with diseases and insects, to handling the oil and the meal, to discussing the trade and policy issues around this crop."

Source : CKRM

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?