Crop Development Centre (CDC) and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) had partnered on pulse breeding for 20 years
Latest agreement ran from 2005–2020
SPG provided a large amount of funding and received exclusive access to varieties through the program
SPG commercialized those varieties royalty-free
SPG was interested in continuing with this model, while CDC was interested in moving to a different model with multiple funders and to generate revenue from the marketplace on the sale of their varieties
The previous model with royalty-free varieties was not an option for the future
SPG’s Future Role in Pulse Breeding
SPG’s intent is for growers to access the best possible genetics for continued competitiveness
This new chapter allows SPG to work with new public & private breeders to achieve breeding outcomes for farmers in Saskatchewan
Attract additional investment & capacity in pulse breeding for Saskatchewan for the benefit of producers
Guiding Principles for SPG to Invest
Investor Mindset – for SPG to invest upfront grower dollars and, if growers are to pay a royalty for access to seed, then a portion of those royalties must flow back to SPG to re-invest in breeding, research, and other areas
Value-Sharing – when assessing new partnerships, SPG is clear that we must avoid a situation where most of the incremental value of a new variety is captured in the cost of the seed – SPG is committed to affordable variety development for farmers
What Will the Future Look Like
All existing royalty-free varieties will remain royalty-free
SPG has no interest or intention of recommending deregistration of any existing royalty-free varieties, so long as growers continue to grow them
New pulse varieties commercialized under SPG’s new vision, through both public and private breeding programs, will be commercialized in a different way:
Through seed companies
With royalties likely on all acres (certified seed + on farm-saved seed)
Under this new model, growers will retain their choice to grow new or existing varieties, requiring new varieties to provide sufficient economic advantage
Intended result = larger/faster genetic gain in yield + advancements in root disease/herbicide tolerance
SPG is continuing to work on and anticipates creating additional new agreements with public and private breeding institutions, including with the CDC, in the future.
