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By Alice McFarlane

Barley Breeding Research

Barley breeding research gets a financial boost

Sep 24, 2025 | 10:02 AM

A core barley breeding agreement promising the development of varieties with improved agronomics, disease resistance and end-use quality has been signed between the Canadian Barley Research Coalition (CBRC) and the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC).

CBRC will provide $1.8 million in funding over three years to CDC.

Curtis Pozniak, Director of the CDC, said the keys to past success within the CDC barley breeding program have been the skilled staff, in-house malt and molecular marker labs and the ability to evaluate large numbers of breeding lines.

“This CBRC funding will support these pillars moving forward,” Pozniak said.

The CBRC is a collaboration between the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), Alberta Grains and Manitoba Crop Alliance.

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The agreement ensures Western Canadian farmers can expect new barley varieties from a world-class program, keeping barley competitive with improved yield and agronomic benefits,” according to CBRC Chair Cody Glenn, who also Chairs SaskBarley.

“The CDC is uniquely positioned to deliver effective results for Western Canadian agriculture,” Glenn said. “This funding extension will allow the program to continue delivering improved varieties and capitalize on new opportunities.”

Leaders from CBRC’s member organizations echoed the sentiment, highlighting the practical benefits for farmers.

Scott Jesperson, Chair of Alberta Grains, emphasized the real-world impact of the funding.

“The CBRC’s investment in the CDC reflects the importance of providing farmers with access to high performing, resilient barley varieties. This funding will deliver on-farm benefits that help barley farmers improve yields, manage disease pressure and stay competitive in global markets.”

Manitoba Crop Alliance Chair Jonothan Hodson said the CDC has an excellent track record of developing high-performance barley varieties for a variety of end-use markets.

“The CBRC’s continued support for this innovative breeding program will ensure barley remains a productive and profitable crop for farmers across Western Canada,” he said.

Continuing the funding agreement with the CDC was a priority for CBRC and is in line with the organization’s goal of facilitating long-term investments aimed at improving profitability and competitiveness for Western Canadian barley farmers.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com