Today at the Canadian Agriculture Progress Show, Farm Credit Canada announced a $5 million commitment to the Accelerated Breeding Program at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Institute for Global Food Security (GIFS).
The program will now be called the “FCC Accelerated Breeding Program at GIFS.”
According to the FCC, accelerated breeding combines techniques such as genomic selection, speed breeding, bioinformatics and computer simulation to increase the rate of genetic gain in crop and livestock breeding programs, getting new products into the hands of growers two to three years sooner and improving agronomic, quality and disease resistance traits.
GIFS’s FCC accelerated breeding program provides public and private breeders with access to the same technologies that are not typically available for crops and livestock important to Canada.
“FCC’s investment in the Accelerated Breeding Program addresses the pressing challenge of increasing agricultural productivity and improving food security in Canada. This collaboration with the Institute for World Food Security puts us on a path to maximizing the benefits of the generational opportunity before us and keeps Canada at the forefront of agricultural excellence and sustainable production through innovative solutions,” said Justin Hendrix, FCC president and CEO.
The FCC’s 2023 report identifies a $30 billion opportunity over 10 years to reignite agricultural productivity growth in Canada, and highlights innovation and technology as the pathway to achieve this. According to the FCC, the genetic gains and yield increases brought about by accelerated breeding will stimulate rural economic growth, leading to increased revenues and market share for Canadian agriculture.
