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By Alice McFarlane

Strengthening the wheat breeding system

Federally mandated spending reductions putting additional strain on research

Jan 12, 2026 | 12:20 PM

Canadian wheat growers are calling for decisive, forward-looking action to strengthen the country’s wheat breeding system following the recent departure of a senior breeder from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association said the federal government has directed departments, including AAFC, to implement 15 per cent budget reductions, adding more funding pressure on public wheat breeding programs.

Wheat Growers Executive Director Dary Pawlik said as public investment has declined, growers have increasingly stepped forward to fund the system through checkoffs and levy dollars, underscoring both their commitment and their stake in its future.

In a new op-ed released today, Pawlik argued this calls for ownership and intention. With growers now deeply invested, Pawlik said Canada must build deliberately on its wheat breeding legacy rather than allow incremental erosion driven by uncertainty and drift.

Gunter Jochum, President of the Wheat Growers, said Canada has a world-class wheat breeding legacy.

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“The opportunity in front of us is to turn that legacy into a launchpad for the next generation of innovation, talent, and growth. That requires foresight, continuity, and a clear commitment to building on what already works,” Jochum said.

“Canada’s public wheat breeding system has been measured in decades, not fiscal cycles,” Jochum added. “When experienced people move on during periods of constraint, it raises important questions about how knowledge is transferred, how continuity is maintained, and how we ensure the full value of growers’ investments is preserved.”

The Wheat Growers emphasized this is not a call to abandon public science, but to strengthen and modernize it. They are calling for a national conversation focused on governance, investment models, and partnerships that can attract talent, encourage collaboration, and transform Canada’s wheat breeding system into a more resilient, self-sustaining engine of innovation.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com