RDAR invests $5.2 million in Western Crop Innovations to support barley and triticale breeding
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Edmonton, Alta. (Rural Roots Canada) – A $5.2-million investment by Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) will support barley and triticale breeding in Alberta and across Western Canada.
The funding, backed by the federal and Alberta governments through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, will support Western Crop Innovations (WCI) to grow varieties suited to Western Canadian growing conditions and the needs of crop and livestock producers.
Established in 2024 to continue the work of the former Field Crop Development Centre, WCI has developed 45 barley varieties and 19 triticale varieties. Its portfolio includes 40 general-purpose and five malting barley varieties, along with 10 spring and nine winter triticale varieties.
WCI varieties accounted for 8.3 percent of general-purpose, non-malting barley acres in Western Canada in 2025. The organization is targeting 9.3 percent by 2028.
Recent releases include AB Standswell, a six-row feed and forage barley variety and the first barley variety with enhanced nitrogen-use efficiency.
WCI is modernizing its breeding programs with genomic selection, unmanned aerial vehicle-based digital phenotyping and speed breeding. The technologies are designed to accelerate genetic gains, improve breeding efficiency and speed the validation of traits important to producers.
Read more: Olds College Research Aims to Help Farmers Get More from Precision Ag
Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald said the investment will help producers adapt to new challenges.
“Canadian producers and processors are constantly adapting to new challenges, and rely on innovative solutions to help them stay profitable and resilient,” he said.
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Tara Sawyer said the investment will strengthen crop breeding across the West.
“Alberta is a leader in producer-led research that is strengthening crop breeding in Alberta and Western Canada,” said Sawyer. “This investment will continue to strengthen our robust crops industry.”
Dr. Mark Redmond, RDAR CEO, said the continued support of WCI’s members in Alberta and Saskatchewan demonstrates how deeply integrated WCI is in the crops and livestock value chain and how important it is to the strength of Canada’s barley sector.
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