ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 28 RESEARCH As public research capacity shrinks, farmers face potential limits on future crop development, prompting calls to protect Canada’s seed innovation system and maintain competitiveness. Ralph Pearce Short-term savings, long-term costs Federal research cuts aim to reduce spending, but may risk billions in future farm productivity and export potential The nature of agriculture demands two key traits of participants: optimism and the willingness to accept change as part of the business of farming. The two are related, with the former commonly seen during the length of the growing season while the latter is a year-round influence. Conditions in the middle of 2026 are enough to stress anyone’s optimism while challenging a grower’s ability to adapt to conditions beyond their control. Global conflicts have shifted the shortterm outlook on energy and fertilizer supplies. And earlier this year, the closure of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research stations added longterm uncertainty to the ministry’s role in plant breeding, varietal registrations and agronomic research. Amid any confusion or disdain the two situations have created, there is a need for calm reflection and maintained diligence within the agri-food industry, especially in sorting out the long-term implications. The situation in the Middle East is beyond the control of anyone in Canada and is also at the forefront of most growers’ attention. Yet industry stakeholders note there are greater implications for the future from the federal budget cuts. THE FOUNDATION In January, AAFC announced the closure of three research and development centres in Guelph, Quebec City and Lacombe, Alberta. Also listed in the news release announcing the closures were four satellite farms at Nappan, Nova Scotia, Indian Head and Scott in Saskatchewan, and Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, all to be shuttered within 12 months. A few days before that, the federal ministry announced job cuts affecting 665 AAFC personnel. Following the announcement, there were comments about the need for “efficiencies” and “getting leaner and meaner”, yet the loss of long-term research deserves greater scrutiny. Some of the work will be moved to other research centres, and some researchers will be relocated. However, according to Doug Miller, former executive director with the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA), there are concerns that plant breeding efforts for non-traited crops, particularly cereals, could be negatively affected. “When we look at stations like Indian Head or Scott or Lacombe, the closure of these sites means we’re losing critical capacity to test varieties where farmers are producing them,” says Miller. “You can’t just do the work in Saskatoon or other sites. What makes them special is where they’re located – the soil types and long-standing trials. That’s critical capacity that we’ll never get back once it’s interrupted.” Miller acknowledges the government's goal of saving $4 to $5 million annually by closing the seven stations. But it’s the long-term effect of losing the specific work carried out at those locations, especially where cereals are concerned. Wheat, oats, barley and others mostly arise from publicsector breeding programs, and the work carried out today will affect the varieties farmers grow in those locations five to 10 years from now. “We’re interrupting that innovation pipeline where we’re going to wake-up 10 to 15 years from now and say, ‘Where did our productivity go? Where did our new disease package go in wheat?’” poses Miller. “This is foundational to our ag sector and I’m looking at a government that wants to be able to diversify trade. But if you don’t have new genetics of varieties that are going to yield better, have better agronomics and disease packages, it’s going to be hard to drive a lot of exports.” SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION In spite of any perceived divide between public and private sectors – where the former handles cereal or non-GMO soybean breeding and the latter develops traited varieties and hybrids – no one is celebrating the cuts to AAFC by the federal government. In fact, before
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