New RDAR investment in feed and forage barley and triticale

A $5.2 million investment will strengthen feed and forage barley and triticale breeding programs for producers across Alberta and Western Canada.

The funding, provided through Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) and supported by the federal and provincial governments the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, will help Western Crop Innovations (WCI) advance the developments of productive, resilient, and locally adapted crop varieties.

According to WCI, the investment will enhance plant breeding capacity in Alberta and accelerate the development of feed and forage varieties tailored to Western Canadian growing conditions.

For livestock producers, continued improvements in locally adapted feed and forage crops can support productivity, reliability, and resilience across both the crop and livestock sectors.

WCI is a not-for-profit crop breeding centre based in Lacombe, Alta., focused on developing feed and forage barley and triticale varieties for Western Canadian producers.

RDAR is a not-for-profit organization that invests in producer-led agricultural research in Alberta, with funding provided by the governments of Canada and Alberta through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.