The Canadian Wheat Alliance Program

Agriculture Agri-Food Canada, the University of Saskatchewan, the National Research Council of Canada, and the Government of Saskatchewan formed the  Canadian Wheat Alliance (CWA) in 2012 to support and advance research that will improve the profitability of Canadian wheat producers by improving breeding efficiency, reducing losses from drought, heat, cold and diseases, and improving nutrient use efficiency. Since then the three research organizations have been working together, aligning their complementary areas of expertise and resources, to focus on six high-priority research areas in three themes:

1-Accelerating Variety Development: “Genomics Assisted Breeding” (GAB) and “Wheat Improvement through Cell Technologies” (WICT)

2-Sustainable Yields – Coping with Variable Climates: “Enhanced Fusarium and Rust Tolerance” (EFRT) and “Improving Wheat Productivity under Conditions of Abiotic Stress” (Abiotic Stress)

3-Increased Productivity and Sustainable Profitability: “Targeting Developmental Pathways to Improve Seed Yield and Crop Performance” (Development)  and “Beneficial Biotic Interactions” (BBI)

The Alliance is an 11 year commitment, with ~$95M in resources for its first five years. 

The poster will highlight the progress made over the past three years, featuring CWA collaborations with industry and international organizations that are helping CWA reach its objective of supporting and advancing research for the more rapid development of Canada’s wheat crops to ensure the long-term profitability and sustainability of Canadian wheat production.