A leading Saskatchewan ag economist believes grain producers need to dig down and work with the federal government on a public plant breeding program.
The partnership would involve producer and federal money in a new entity.
Agriculture Canada may leave plant breeding of new varieties to the commercial sector except for trait research.
Agriculture Canada’s role in plant breeding has been suspect since it unveiled plans to charge either an end point or farm saved seed royalty on grain.
The success of public plant breeding programs is wide, the University of Saskatchewan grain policy analyst told Croposphere in Saskatoon.
An input-output index of Prairie crops shows slow growth of inputs but over 250 per cent growth in output since the mid-1970s. Much of the output increase comes from developing new plant varieties.
Various studies have shown an internal rate of return from plant breeding ranges between 20 per cent and 51 per cent, depending on the grain.
Australia has had a simple public/private plant breeding model giving producers some control of the process.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
