Lacombe’s Field Crop Development Centre has been relaunched as Western Crop Innovations.
“A new structure will revitalize this organization, promote a renewed vision, and better position Alberta to meet the agriculture industry’s needs,” says a Wednesday news release from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.
Officially beginning on April 1, non-profit Western Crop Innovations (WCI) will carry on the crop development centre (FCDC) research, including its well-known barley breeding program. The province is contributing $3.2 million towards the estimated $3.5 million cost of running the WCI for its first year. Industry support is also expected.
The FCDC, formerly owned and operated by the provincial government, was started in 1973 and became a top research facility focused on producing new barley and triticale (wheat and rye hyrbrid) varieties for Alberta and western Canada.
Its research team includes experts in breeding, biotechnology, pathology, grain quality, and operations. Researchers focus on increasing yield, improving disease resistance, and providing superior crop varieties.
Olds College of Agriculture and Technology took over the centre and its 600 acres of plot development land in early 2021.
Under WCI, the facility’s programming will under go a review “and where necessary, will be transitioned to ensure crop innovations support Alberta’s farmers’ needs now and into the future,” says the release.
Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson said WCI “will carry on the Field Crop Development Centre’s substantial legacy, ensuring its work is addressing the issues farmers are facing in the fields.”
An interim board will be chaired by Jason Lenz, a Bentley-area grain farmer who has sat on the boards of numerous agricultural organizations.
“Considering my farm’s proximity and history with FCDC, I’m happy to help guide Western Crop Innovations to conduct research and development leading to commercialization of superior crop varieties that will benefit Alberta and western Canadian agriculture sectors,” said Lenz.