Grain sector: research in genetics

Transcription

1 Grain sector: research in genetics Funding Innovation symposium (CSTA) Winnipeg, April 2013 William Van Tassel FPCCQ

2 Plan of presentation Research priorities in Québec Why genetics? Research in genetics and institutions Researchers Recent projects CÉROM and Collaboration FPCCQ s priorities and commitment A lot of thing to keep in mind But, many challenges! Conclusion and thoughts

3 Research priorities in Québec A large consultation about public research priorities : Innovagrains (grain innovation network), CÉROM, FPCCQ s research committee, etc. ; Many priorities were set : agronomy, quality, integrated pest management, etc.; Research in genetics and adapted cultivars remain a common denominator and a priority for all participants at these consultations.

4 Why genetics? Yield (mainly wheat) is decreasing in the different areas of the province; Growers have used the same varieties since many years : need of new varieties (genetics); Quality standards (DON content and fusarium issue: need of resistance to fusarium; Insurances: crop insurance (ASREC) and the Farm Income Stabilization Insurance Program (ASRA): certified seeds is compulsory; Public support for research in genetics is decreasing;

5 Research in genetics and institutions Research in genetics : breeding and developing applied genetics (molecular, genomic, metabolomic and proteomic tools); Breeding projects in Québec are focusing on soybean, wheat (SW and WW), barley and triticale; Research institutions : Universities (Laval and McGill), Private (Coop fédérée, Prograin, Ceresco, Semican, Céréla, etc.), public : CEROM and AAFC breeding program at Ste-Foy (until the last year).

6 Researchers in genetics (DIAP/cluster) Researchers from Québec who applied for the last DIAP and the current cluster with the main research interest in genetics: Ajjamada Kushalappa: (McGill)/ metabolomics and proteomics/ Wheat and barley; Jaswinder Singh: (McGill)/ genomics/ barley; François Belzile (Univ. Laval)/genomics/ soybean and barley; Louise O Donoghue (CÉROM)/breeding/ soybean; Yves Dion (CÉROM)/ breeding/ Wheat and triticale; [André Comeau ] (retired from AAFC)/Breeding/wheat and triticale.

7 CÉROM and collaboration CÉROM (research corporation) is funded by MAPAQ (provincial ministry of agriculture), FPCCQ and la COOP Fédérée, it is the main public player in research on grains in Québec; Two breeders at the CÉROM : wheat and soybean; The breeding program has been running since many years and has been reinforced by research activities with the federal gov. initiative (GF1) through the DIAP; Genetics activities at the CÉROM are targeting the breeding in wheat and soybean (DIAP ).

8 There is a good collaboration between CÉROM researchers, universities, AAFC team (ECORC, Ste-Foy, Lethbridge, etc.);

9 The FPCCQ s priorities and commitment FPCCQ is a member of the CFCRA: An opportunity to continue genetics projects that are less funded (the federal investment is decreasing and return on the investment is less attractive for the private sector); A resolution of the GAM of the FPCCQ (2012) to continue supporting research in genetics and to apply for a cluster as continuum of the DIAP; Federal program GF 2: is a good opportunity for CFCRA to continue the research activities started at GF1; The involvement of the FPCCQ is to enhance the development of new varieties adapted to the reality of the market place and the production conditions of the province.

10 A lot of things to keep in mind A good collaboration between universities, CÉROM, AAFC for public research in genetics: productions such as wheat, and other cereals with a less good return on the investment needs this collaboration to accelerate the pace of releasing new varieties for growers; The system of compulsory use of certified seeds for the growers if they take crop insurance; The research budget of the FPCCQ is to support the CÉROM activities for all the research activities (agronomy and genetics), and about 40 % of the annual budget will be a contribution to the cluster initiative of CFCRA.

11 But, many challenges (1) Breeding programs need many years of research and expensive facilities that should be considered as a long term investment, The industry investment capacity may have certain limits and the choices of research priorities don t support some strategic projects (Kushalappa project); Experienced breeders are going to be retiring in the next few years and the research stakeholders should be aware, to avoid the potential gap of experience; The FPCCQ is lobbying the federal government to maintain the activities of research in wheat in Québec.

12 Challenges (2) Research with a sustainable pace releasing new varieties and cultivars; Growers have to adapt to what the market needs.

13 Conclusion and thoughts To make a tangible progress in research and particularly in genetics, there should be a sustainable investment; A long term investment requires the commitment of the industry and the support of the government.