Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Crop Development Centre (CDC) are pleased to announce a new collaboration for lentil and faba bean breeding in Saskatchewan. This newly formed collaboration builds on a 30-year history of partnership and will further increase pulse breeding capacity and a competitive environment to drive innovation for producers.
The focus of the partnership is breeding stronger performing lentil and faba bean varieties for Saskatchewan. This work is guided by farmer-driven priorities, addressing key on-farm challenges. For lentil crops, this includes improved yield; improved Aphanomyces and Fusarium root rot resistance, resistance to foliar diseases (Anthracnose, Ascochyta blight), and herbicide tolerance with a focus on groups 5 and 14. For faba beans, breeding priorities include improved yield, maturity, seed size, and shape, improved architecture and resistance to lodging, and improved disease resistance. Breeding will take place in Saskatoon and will leverage testing sites across Saskatchewan and Western Canada.
“This new collaboration with the CDC marks a renewed path forward in lentil and faba bean breeding for the benefit of Saskatchewan producers. Having farmers at the table to provide direction to the program will result in new and better varieties in the hands of producers, tackling their greatest challenges,” says Stuart Lawrence, Chair of SPG Board of Directors.
SPG is providing a portion of upfront operational funding for both lentil and faba bean programs. Alberta Pulse Growers is also providing funding towards the lentil program. SPG will provide input on breeding priorities to help ensure farmers needs, priorities, and challenges are driving the goals of the program. The agreement reflects a commitment to commercialize new varieties with royalties on all acres, including those planted with farm-saved seed. Royalties from new varieties will be shared and SPG will re-invest its share in high priority program areas.
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