Research
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) National Barley Cluster
Enhancing the adaptation of western Canadian barley to climate change Priority 1: Climate Change and Environment
Dr. Yadeta Kabeta,
Dr. Jennifer Zantinge,Western Crop Innovations
As the fifth-largest barley producer in the world, Canada’s global reputation could be at risk if our barley breeding programs can’t continue to enhance genetic gains while reducing the risk of climate, industry and market changes.
This research aims to modernize the barley breeding process at Western Crop Innovations and accelerate new barley variety development to tackle future climate issues. It also aims to improve barley genetics through enhanced nitrogen and water use efficiency, lodging resistance, grain and forage yield potential, disease resistance, malting and feed quality, and agronomic traits.
Overall, this project aims to nurture economic growth in the barley value chain, address climate change challenges, and improve the capacity and future impact of western Canadian barley breeding programs.
Objectives
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Apply genomic information to the decision-making process to increase the quality and speed of trait selection and build a platform for WCI breeding, including incorporating data from field remote, traditional phenotyping, genotyping data and genomic selection.
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Improve the adaptation of barley to the diverse soil and agroclimatic conditions in Western Canada, enhance drought tolerance and water use efficiency, improve nitrogen use efficiency, build multiple disease resistance characteristics, improve lodging resistance, increase the rate of genetic gain in grain/forage yield, and enhance the nutritional value of barley as a feed grain and forage.
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Increase yield and enhance lodging resistance and end-use quality of malt barley.