""If Canada wants generational change in agricultural innovation, we need to transform our policy around how we fund plant breeding," he says. The current system, heavily reliant on public funding and check-off dollars, is increasingly under pressure. Reinheimer points to signs that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is shrinking its breeding footprint-especially in wheat, where AAFC varieties still account for about 80 per cent of acres. The problem? There's no updated funding model to match that shift."
"His proposed solution is a simplified value creation model, such as a Variety Use Agreement (VUA), that would directly link farmer payment to the developers of the varieties they grow. While farmers already invest through levies and taxes, Reinheimer argues a royalty-based system would better align incentives and increase investment across both public and private programs. "It opens up a direct relationship between the developer and the farmer... and really encourages a competitive landscape where anyone, big or small, can give it a go.""
Current plant-breeding funding in Canada relies heavily on public funding and check-off dollars and faces increasing pressure. Federal breeding capacity appears to be shrinking, notably in wheat where public varieties still cover about 80 per cent of acres, while no updated funding model exists to address that shift. A simplified value-creation approach, such as a Variety Use Agreement that directly links farmer payments to variety developers, could create a royalty stream to align incentives and drive investment across public and private breeding programs. Some producers may worry about double payments, but the model aims to boost competition and future-proof innovation.
Read at Realagriculture
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