National consortium formed to accelerate Canadian pea breeding through genomic selection

Today at the Saskatchewan Crops Forum, Protein Industries Canada announced a new two-year project in its Capacity Building Program with GIFS Ag Tech Enterprise Inc. and DL Seeds to develop a pea variety development database that will consolidate genetic information and data for breeders across Canada.

With the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC) and Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada (AAFC) serving as fundamental partners in this effort, the consortium will integrate genetic, phenotypic, environmental and pedigree data from across the country. This new data analysis platform will empower pulse breeders to leverage thousands of data points simultaneously, improving the quality and speed of breeding decisions and accelerating the development of new crop varieties.

“Our government is proud to invest in this collaboration powered by Protein Industries Canada,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “By combining diverse data and expertise, the consortium will strengthen Canada’s position in the sustainable economy and reduce costs. The benefits from this investment will resonate across the country, with better yields for farmers, more resilient and innovative products for the agricultural industry, and greater choice for Canadian families.”

“Today’s announcement is an exciting advancement for Canadian agriculture and the plant-based protein industry. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, this new integrated Pea Genomic Selection Platform will bring together diverse datasets to make it easier, faster, and more affordable to develop superior pea varieties. Innovations in plant breeding like this, built on strategic Canadian collaboration with the value chain, make our sector more competitive, and play an important role in advancing sustainability and resilience across the food system,” said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

“This project is Canadian agricultural innovation at its best: using AI and better data to help breeders get stronger pea varieties into producers’ hands faster and at lower costs,” Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger said. “Saskatchewan farmers grow the best crops in the world. This homegrown research is integral to staying on the cutting edge of innovation and creates good jobs right here in our province and right across the Prairies.”

The initiative will be executed through a national genomic selection breeding consortium of public and private sector breeding organizations, led by the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan via its non-profit business arm, GIFS Ag Tech Enterprise.