New collaboration for lentil and faba bean breeding

For faba beans, breeding priorities include improved yield, maturity, seed size, and shape, improved architecture and resistance to lodging, and improved disease resistance. Breeding will take place in Saskatoon and with testing sites across Saskatchewan and Western Canada.

SPG Board Chair Stuart Lawrence said this marks a renewed path forward in lentil and faba bean breeding.

“Having farmers at the table to provide direction to the program will result in new and better varieties in the hands of producers, tackling their greatest challenges,” Lawrence said.

SPG is providing a portion of upfront operational funding for both programs. Alberta Pulse Growers is also providing funding towards the lentil program. The agreement reflects a commitment to commercialize new varieties with royalties on all acres, including those planted with farm-saved seed. Royalties from new varieties will be shared and SPG will re-invest its share in high priority program areas.

CDC Director Dr. Curtis Pozniak said the breeding programs have had a significant impact on lentil and faba bean production on the prairies.

“More than 95 per cent of the lentil and faba bean acreage on the Canadian prairies is planted to a CDC variety, generating billions of dollars in value to western Canadian growers,” Pozniak said. “This renewed partnership with SPG will further strengthen pulse breeding and accelerate the development of new, high performing varieties that meet the evolving needs of farmers.”

CDC’s history of pulse breeding and variety development dates back to 1978 when the Laird lentil was first released in Canada. Since then, hundreds of CDC pulse varieties have been released.

This new partnership with CDC is SPG’s third major collaboration in the new era for pulse breeding in Saskatchewan.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

by Alice McFarlane

New collaboration for lentil and faba bean breeding

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