BREEDING
At Western Crop Innovations, our advanced breeding pipelines are the cornerstone of our mission to transform agriculture. Using the latest genetic research techniques and sustainable practices, we develop varieties that are not only high-yielding but also resilient to the evolving challenges of modern farming. Our program focuses on enhancing crop quality, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability to meet the needs of today’s farmers and tomorrow’s markets.
Our Approach to Breeding
Accelerating the breeding cycle is critical to deliver varieties that combat environmental change and address market concerns. Our breeding program utilizes indoor growth facilities, international winter nurseries, and cutting-edge genetic techniques, including marker-assisted selection to get well-adapted seed into the hands of producers faster. By integrating traditional breeding methods with modern biotechnology, we ensure each variety is optimized for performance and sustainability.
BARLEY BREEDING
Feed and Forage
Our feed program is dedicated to developing high-yield barley varieties that significantly boost grain production across Alberta. We focus on enhancing forage quality and yields for silage and grazing, emphasizing early maturity, lodging resistance, and excellent grain and biomass characteristics. Our breeding strategy now includes optimizing nitrogen use efficiency to improve environmental sustainability. Additionally, our cultivars are developed to exhibit robust disease resistance against priority-I diseases, including scald, blotches, smuts, rusts, and Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), ensuring resilient and productive crops.
Malt
Our malting barley pipeline produces premium two-row barley varieties, tailored for high yields and exceptional adaptability to varying growing conditions. These varieties are designed to meet the exacting requirements of both the adjunct and craft beer markets. We now highlight traits such as non-glycosidic nitrile and lodging resistance, alongside our ongoing commitment to disease resistance and resilience to stresses like water scarcity, ensuring these cultivars perform optimally even in challenging environments.
Note: As of 2025, WCI is transitioning out of malt barley breeding. While no new crosses will be pursued, existing advanced-generation lines will continue through the development pipeline, with promising material to be put forward for registration and licensing.
TRITICALE BREEDING
Our breeding program develops new spring triticale varieties optimized for western Canada’s diverse climates. We focus on superior grain and forage yields with enhanced lodging resistance. Our efforts include producing awnless and reduced awn types for better digestibility and palatability in swath-grazing and green forage uses. We also prioritize improved drought tolerance, early maturity, reduced pre-harvest sprouting, and robust resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and ergot.
Our breeding program develops new spring triticale varieties optimized for western Canada’s diverse climates. We focus on superior grain and forage yields with enhanced lodging resistance. Our efforts include producing awnless and reduced awn types for better digestibility and palatability in swath-grazing and green forage uses. We also prioritize improved drought tolerance, early maturity, reduced pre-harvest sprouting, and robust resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and ergot.
KEY AREAS OF FOCUS
Disease Resistance
We develop varieties with enhanced resistance to key diseases, bolstering crop productivity.
Climate Resilience
Our varieties are designed to thrive in various environmental conditions, ensuring farmers can succeed no matter the climate challenges.
Yield Improvement
We prioritize high yield potential to maximize the productivity of each acre planted.
Proven Impact in the Field
Discover the real-world impact of our breeding programs through these success stories. From increased crop yields in arid regions to successful cultivation of disease-resistant varieties, our innovations are making a real difference in agricultural communities across Western Canada.
The Challenge
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The Solution
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The Outcome
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Name, Company
The Challenge
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The Solution
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The Outcome
Urna molestie at elementum eu facilisis. Tellus in metus vulputate eu. Nunc sed velit dignissim sodales ut eu. Scelerisque viverra mauris in aliquam. Cras sed felis eget velit. Urna porttitor rhoncus dolor purus non. Turpis egestas integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Sed augue lacus viverra vitae congue eu. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat. Habitant morbi tristique senectus et. Parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus mauris vitae. Sed elementum tempus egestas sed sed risus.
Habitasse platea dictumst quisque sagittis purus sit amet. Diam maecenas sed enim ut. Magna sit amet purus gravida. Ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare. Suscipit adipiscing bibendum est ultricies integer quis auctor elit. Sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate dignissim suspendisse in est.
Name, Company
The Challenge
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Nulla malesuada pellentesque elit eget gravida cum sociis. Tincidunt eget nullam non nisi est sit.
The Solution
Nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh nisl condimentum. Sit amet aliquam id diam maecenas ultricies. Rhoncus aenean vel elit scelerisque mauris pellentesque pulvinar pellentesque habitant. Ut tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo. Est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet sed euismod nisi. Sem fringilla ut morbi tincidunt augue. Tempus quam pellentesque nec nam aliquam sem et tortor consequat. Vitae ultricies leo integer malesuada nunc vel risus commodo viverra.
The Outcome
Urna molestie at elementum eu facilisis. Tellus in metus vulputate eu. Nunc sed velit dignissim sodales ut eu. Scelerisque viverra mauris in aliquam. Cras sed felis eget velit. Urna porttitor rhoncus dolor purus non. Turpis egestas integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Sed augue lacus viverra vitae congue eu. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat. Habitant morbi tristique senectus et. Parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus mauris vitae. Sed elementum tempus egestas sed sed risus.
Habitasse platea dictumst quisque sagittis purus sit amet. Diam maecenas sed enim ut. Magna sit amet purus gravida. Ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare. Suscipit adipiscing bibendum est ultricies integer quis auctor elit. Sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate dignissim suspendisse in est.
Name, Company