Better crops through genetics, wheat that’s for the birds, recognizing reconciliation

This week’s Between the Rows features an interview with a molecular biologist with Cibus about how gene editing can develop traits that help farmers grow better crops while using fewer resources. There’s a new ecolabel about to show up on wheat products and it’s one that supports waterfowl as well as farmers. We’ll also talk to an Indigenous business leader in Saskatchewan about how agriculture and rural Canada can both support and benefit from the reconciliation process. Hosted by Laura Rance.

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Carly Reimer: [00:00:05] Welcome to Between the Rows, I’m your host this week, Laura Rance, this is the part of the program where I’m supposed to be telling you what this week’s show is all about. Well, in a nutshell, we’re talking about our future. It’s about how companies operating in the genetic trait business are using gene editing to support better outcomes for farmers.

Peter Beetham: [00:00:26] Farmers are well aware of some of these goals out there. You know, they they really what’s important to them is managing their farms effectively and sustainably so that you can continue to to really be productive and not have any damage to the environment around farms and on farms.

Laura Rance: [00:00:46] We’ll hear about how farmers, food and beverage processors and conservation groups are working to give consumers choices that support waterfowl, habitat and the environment.

Carly Reimer: [00:00:58] Our research further determined that ducks that nest in winter wheat are twenty four times more successful than those who choose to nest in spring sown cereals.

Laura Rance: [00:01:11] And finally, how our ability to find the people and the ideas to support agriculture and our rural communities is undeniably tied to reconciling

Thomas Benjoe: [00:01:22] With our past. The definition of indigenous wealth is very different in that it’s about community.

Laura Rance: [00:01:29] But before we start, here’s a word from our sponsor.

Commercial: [00:01:32] Part of being a farmer is being an accountant and a mechanic and a chemist. You have lots on the go, so Farm Link makes your grain marketing go further. We help you reach your financial goals with calculated sales decisions. No bias, just solutions and results. Plus, with our new app Green Fox, we bring every opportunity right to your fingertips. Literally start seeing the returns that will get your family ahead. You’ve earned it. Farm Link. Your work is worth more. Get started at FarmLinksolutions.ca.

Laura Rance: [00:02:06] Welcome back to Between the Rows, I’m your host this week, Laura Rance. Our first item takes us into the world of gene editing, a concept that still makes some people a little bit uncomfortable in this story. The Western producers, Robyn Booker, attempts to demystify both the process and the potential of these new crop breeding tools as part of Glacier Farm Media’s Seeding the Future project. Robyn talked to CBS molecular biologist Peter Beattie about how gene editing is opening new pathways to crop improvement.

Peter Beetham: [00:02:45] Davis is based in San Diego, where a company of about 120 people, fundamentally where an independent trait developer. So we developed traits for crops. We, you know, more recently, we’re really focused now in on five crops and five trade areas. And so those five crops that canola, rice, corn, wheat and soybean with our first, you know, a major focus in traits is what we call input traits. And so the ability to to help farmers reduce their inputs, you know, those input traits for farmers are the three main areas we’ve been focusing on more recently herbicide tolerance, disease tolerance and nitrogen use efficiency. Fundamentally, what we’re, you know, one of our missions that seems to really know provide new characteristics into major crops globally that allow farmers to make every acre more sustainable. And so that means by reducing their their their need for inputs or making it simpler that they farmers can increase their profits and also create more value per acre for seed companies and and therefore royalties back to service as part of the trade. Saskatoon is a center of canola in Canada, and so our first foray as a company was in canola. We we’ve showcased what we can do both as in elite seed and commercial seed. We’ve we actually had a seed business where we showcase some of our early trade canola. And more recently, you know, we’ve divested some of those activities to Farmers Business Network and now we’re really a pure play gene editing, independent trade developer.

Peter Beetham: [00:05:03] So when you look at the rapid rate development system rather than it’s it’s a family of technologies. It’s not just one technology. We have been around for a number of years and we’ve been building the infrastructure both in the lab and the greenhouses and then now to the field as well to really show that we can truly make edits in genes in major crops. And, you know, fundamentally what we do is we make a spelling change in a gene. And so by by doing that, we use the natural processes in in cells of plants and then bring those cells back to a whole plant and then take it to the greenhouse and then it enters into a normal plant breeding program. So it’s what the outcome is indistinguishable from what can occur in nature. The outcomes are very similar to what occurs in a traditional breeding program. And so the ability to make those edits are spelling changes. And then that’s what we call a genotype that could occur in nature given enough time. And that creates a new essentially, what that does is creates a new phenotype, which is a new characteristic. So. And you know, fundamentally traditional breeding or some of the older technologies like GMO have not been able to address disease tolerance like we can with gene editing.

Robin Booker: [00:06:52] Will farmers still have the spray once they get a variety that has this trade in it, will they still have the spray for four square Tony?

Peter Beetham: [00:07:00] So right now we’re in, we’re on a path to producing increasing levels of tolerance. Last year, the USDA, we submitted a number of what they call me regulated documents to and eight of those. We did 14. In total, eight of them were to do with disease tolerance. So we have a number of targets. And the reason I’m telling you that is because right now we think the initial the initial introductions we see will reduce the amount of fungicide needed. It won’t do it completely, but we think by the time we get to the final sort of next generation product, we can maybe eradicate the use of fungicide force, lusitania or white mold completely. So, you know, it really is a progressive trade introduction. And you know, we’re excited to see what we’ve done already in field trials and this is just early stage trials. This is heading towards an understanding of when you get it with our partners into commercial hybrids.

Robin Booker: [00:08:18] Do you have any timeframe on when that might happen, of when this trait might be available for farmers?

Peter Beetham: [00:08:25] We’re looking. We’re probably still three, four, four years away around. I would say, you know, at best sort of we’ll will have more trials this year. And then and then, you know, one part of this is we’re getting variety registration in Canada. So that takes a couple of years. So, you know, it’s that three to four year timeframe, we’ll know exactly when we launch.

Robin Booker: [00:08:50] Ok? Are there any other traits that you’re working on in canola and for for what? I guess what what’s your goal with them?

Peter Beetham: [00:08:59] So we’ve got a number of traits in canola. Right now, the initial work we did using a very early technology, we had herbicide tolerance. We’ve also now produced with a more what I would say is more specific gene editing, a pod channel reduction trait that that allows farmers at the end of the season to have some harvest flexibility. And so the pods on the canola plant don’t shatter at harvest. That’s that’s a trade that is pretty well known for farmers with BASF, but a lot of the other companies have not had access to that. So we’re bringing that to market through some partnerships. The next right after that is disclosed tenia tolerance and then the trait beyond that is another another specific herbicide tolerance. You know, when when we think about the constraints of farming and as well as the disease, you know, controlling weeds is a big part of know, particularly in broad acre agriculture. So we’re trying to address those issues by bringing alternatives and options for farmers, for controlling their weeds. So we’re looking forward to that. We’re looking forward to the pod shadow reduction trait as well as disease. And these, you know, the exciting thing about gene editing is, you know, it fits perfectly into plant breeding programs and the traditional path to market. It also allows you to sort of combine those traits in in a way that really meets what farmers would like to see and and allows them some flexibility on how they manage their rotations, how they manage their crops. You know, look, I think, you know, one of the things that you’re saying more broadly in agriculture is the commodity prices are improving. Farmers are, I think, are looking to make every acre more productive. They’re also, you know, really

Peter Beetham: [00:11:21] Cognizant of keeping

Peter Beetham: [00:11:23] Farming sustainable. And I think one of the things that

Peter Beetham: [00:11:26] Saves us is really committed to is working with sea seed industries

Peter Beetham: [00:11:31] Around the world business, more specifically, the early stages with canola in Canada and other places in North America. To to really provide, you know, the ability to farmers to to limit their inputs and therefore have less impact on the environment. There’s a lot of push from governments around the world. Robin to know to reduce inputs by 50 percent. You know, there’s a farm to fork initiative in Europe right now that allows. The goal is to reduce inputs by 50 percent by 2030. And so and also be carbon neutral by 2050. So these, you know, I think farmers are well aware of some of these goals out there. You know, they’re they’re really what’s important to them is managing their farms effectively and sustainably so that you can continue to to really be productive and not have any damage to the environment around farms and on farms. So, you know, we’re really committed to work very closely with seed companies to provide traits into that channel so farmers can really meet some of those sustainability goals.

Robin Booker: [00:12:55] So I just recently did a story on peas and lentils here in Saskatchewan, and they’re having a, you know, a really tough time with a fan of Mieses. What might there be a role for this kind of technology to help peas and lentils get some tolerance or resistance to that disease?

Peter Beetham: [00:13:11] Yeah, look, you know, one of the things that’s really exciting about gene editing is you once you understand some of the targets. In one crop, they’re very in a lot of cases, it’s very transferable, so there’s a transformational synergy between between crops. So you know, we. And the various targets that I talked about before that we’ve looked at, we do see the ability to to look at the same sorts of targets in other crops and then effect in a positive way tolerance to other diseases. Now, white mold is a good example because it’s actually it infects a lot of different crops. Wow. You know, it’s it is in legumes. So, you know, that’s that’s in peas and soybean. And so, you know, that’s an example of where we know we can use gene editing to be broader application across crops and therefore attack different diseases within those crops. So that’s a long answer to say yes. But it gives you a little bit of understanding of why that why we see it as transferable. You know, it’s just it’s an exciting time for AG and tech with a lot of new technologies, and I think gene editing is going to be a major player. You know, in Canada and Canada and other places around the world.

Laura Rance: [00:14:48] That was Robin Booker of the Western producer talking to Peter Beattie of CBS. If you’re interested in learning more about our seating in the future multimedia project, you can view it online by doing a Google search for Glacier Farm Media seeding the future. You’ll find stories, podcast interviews, videos and animations that explore a wide variety of topics related to how we’re protecting, managing and developing our genetic resources. Our next item takes us into the wild, a wildlife education center on the outskirts of Winnipeg. That is an assortment of farmers. Waterfowl conservation groups and industry gathered at the Foot White Center recently to launch a new labeling program. The eco label is designed to support farmers who are choosing to grow duck friendly crops. Here’s Jerilyn Witcher’s of the Manitoba cooperator with that story and.

Geralyn Wichers: [00:16:00] Can a label on a bag of flour or a bottle of vodka boost the duck population? A new habitat friendly winter wheat ecolabel aims to try winter wheat makes ideal habitat for the northern pin tailed duck, which prefers to nest in cropland. Carly Reimer is a communications specialist with Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Carly Reimer: [00:16:24] In the 1970s, we noticed populations of a duck species called the northern pin tail were declining, mainly due to habitat loss. We decided to study these beautiful birds and found that unlike most waterfowl that need grasslands, pin tails will choose cropland and field stubble to nest and raise their young. Our research further determined that ducks that nest in winter wheat are twenty four times more successful than those who choose to nest in spring sown cereals. This is because that field operations on farms are greatly reduced during peak nesting periods in the spring due to the fall seated nature of winter wheat.

Geralyn Wichers: [00:17:11] Female pin tails, nest on the ground and low, sparse vegetation, they nest further from water than most ducts

Carly Reimer: [00:17:18] In the spring, when farmers are out on their land planting their crops. Winter wheat is already in the ground growing, making it an attractive green blanket for ducks and other birds to build a nest. And it’s not just ducks. Winter wheat provides habitat to several other grassland species as well. Moving forward, our new habitat friendly ecolabel can further showcase the environmental benefits of winter wheat while supporting Canada’s agricultural sustainability goals and increasing a farmer’s profitability.

Geralyn Wichers: [00:17:53] However, winter wheat acres have been declining in twenty fourteen, prairie farmers ceded 1.3 million acres last year. It was roughly a quarter of that at three hundred and twelve thousand acres. The habitat from the label aims to make winter wheat a more attractive option. Daniel Ramage is the director of Market Access and trade policy at Cereals Canada.

Daniel Ramage: [00:18:20] It really at the heart of it. This is a market development project that’s been driven from the ground up with support from the the winter wheat producer commissions across the prairies who are looking to maintain winter wheat as a viable option for farmers because we know that farmers want to keep winter wheat as an option within their rotations. And so they’re looking for opportunities to help grow the demand for this crop. And so this project is one of the ways that we can help achieve that by communicating these, these important habitat benefits that we’ve known for a long time are are made available by growing winter wheat, communicating that story back to the consumer. That’s something that is ultimately going to help create these opportunities for farmers to keep winter wheat as an option within their rotation, but also to capture additional value if we are creating stronger demand pull.

Geralyn Wichers: [00:19:28] The project is working with two companies so far. Specialty Miller, Lisa Mullin’s de Solange and Distiller Beam Suntory.

Daniel Ramage: [00:19:37] We’re working with food manufacturers who are using the equal label and are increasing their use of of winter wheat in order to use the eco label, they want to demonstrate their sustainability credentials. And so by using winter wheat and using the Eco label, that’s one way they can achieve that. And so ultimately, with that increase in demand for for winter wheat that can transfer back to the farmer, that can can create more value and more benefits for farmers who are are growing winter wheat, it’s giving them options and places where they can sell this crop. Beyond, you know, the usual destinations for winter wheat,

Geralyn Wichers: [00:20:26] Ecolabel certification confirms the product uses Canadian Western red winter class wheat. It does not carry a premium for farmers. The project is betting that food processors will take up the habitat friendly label and thus boost demand as farmers fill demand. Pin tail ducks may find more friendly fields to build their nests.

Laura Rance: [00:20:54] That story was brought to us by Geralyn Wichers, a reporter with the Manitoba cooperator. Our final item this week zeroes in on the efforts of indigenous nations in Saskatchewan to work more closely with the agriculture sector in ways that both support their communities and the industry’s growth. I spoke with Thomas Benjoe, the CEO of FH Q Developments now. Fh Q Developments was founded by the 11 member First Nations communities of File Hills Qu’Apelle Tribal Council. The council represents over fifteen thousand First Nation citizens and four hundred and thirty five thousand acres of reserve lands in Treaty four territory, which encompasses much of southern Saskatchewan. Thomas and I talked about a recent conference held by FGCU that highlighted both the opportunities and the barriers their efforts face. Here’s Thomas.

Thomas Benjoe: [00:21:54] Our function here is three things, one, we invest and develop partnerships and build new businesses as an organization, so we have all companies that we actually manage in our portfolio. We have an economic development function, which is how we build the indigenous business ecosystem around the success that we have in our businesses. And how are we bringing our nations and our citizen entrepreneurs along on the journey with us? And then the third piece is our Tokata HR Solutions, which focuses on indigenous careers. Either that’s through building careers with us in our companies or with some of the organizations that we’re putting talent to work. We also do HR consulting as well. So all of those pieces together creates a bit of a lot more impact in our communities in terms of economic impact and social impact, because our our reach is much further than just looking at the bottom line. The definition for wealth, you know, it’s typically what am I doing for myself, what am I doing or what legacy I’m going to leave for myself or my family? The definition of indigenous wealth is very different in that it’s about community. So how are we improving the community? How are we leaving things sustainable for future generations? How are we making this better for livelihood that is going to be built off of the success we have in business? And so that’s the whole premise of our organization is making sure that we’re sustainable and creating community wealth. And so that requires us to look a bit more broadly on how we measure success as an organization.

Thomas Benjoe: [00:24:06] What we are trying to get home here is that there are so many more opportunities in the ag industry than just looking at the opportunities we have, you know, in our history as indigenous businesses. So typically we’re involved in more on the producer side of things. So we’re raising cattle. We’re growing crops. But now the opportunity at hand and especially in our backyard in southern Saskatchewan, is we have a protein supercluster. We have quite a number of new protein processing plants that are coming in. And there’s there’s this amazing wave of ag tech that is happening that we need to be a part of. So it’s it’s exposing our nations to those opportunities, but also those organizations that are growing around us, these businesses in the ag industry to think about their future, think about what does the future talent of their organization, what is the future supply chain of their organizations look like? Because if they’re going to, if they plan to grow in Saskatchewan, can’t forget how important indigenous people are going to be in that future plant because of the amount of growth that our population has as nations. And we’re going to make up a pretty significant part of the overall Saskatchewan population going into the future. So you have to have a strategy in place and it could be small things at the start, but you get a bit more serious about the policies and the strategy going forward. So that’s that’s really what was the message we were trying to get across. But it’s also how do we how do we identify some of the issues and barriers that are that exist because of policy or lack of policy? We need to be able to understand these things, come up with solutions together and try to build success with one another and do that through partnership and relationship building.

Thomas Benjoe: [00:26:22] So those are those are really the foundations of why we held this conference and where we’re going to take into the future. You know, the Indian Act is probably one of the biggest barrier, the biggest policy barriers that our nations would face because it does doesn’t allow for security to be taken on any indigenous property on reserve. And so you look at the basis of any loan, it’s leveraging assets and leveraging land to be able to access capital for loans. So if a bank can take security on those assets, well, chances are they’re likely not going to lend to you. So, you know, we have to work through some of those issues, but also just make sure that our nations are aware when when do these businesses make sense to be on reserve? And when do these businesses make sense to be off reserve and on principle land where we can leverage the assets and use those for the capital that we need for our companies and for the growth? So I think there’s there is a number of things that were discussed starting from the financial panel. And I know in discussions leading up to the panel, I did let our financial panel know that there are things that we need to start considering from a policy perspective, not only as financial institutions but as government.

Thomas Benjoe: [00:28:09] Maybe we create a loan loss fund that can help backstop some of the lending that may happen. I’m a former commercial banker and I know the numbers in terms of what loan losses actually look like for indigenous communities, and you’d be quite surprised to learn that indigenous lending is actually has the least amount of loan loss than any other industry. So there’s always this stigma of putting out capital, not being able to get your returns or be able to have any control over that funding. But at the end of the day, those little risks that have been taken have actually gone a long way for indigenous communities. So we got to change the way we risk profile, I guess indigenous investment. And I think once we do that and perhaps have some backstop opportunities with government, I mean, that’s what a lot of industries have been based on anyways. So why not do that for indigenous communities as well? And I think that will solve our access to capital issues. But it’s going to take a lot of a lot of people to change and a lot of policies to change that to happen. I think the one thing that the industry has not fully participated in reconciliation, or there’s never been that push for the industry to participate in economic reconciliation, and when you’re looking at the mining industry, oil and gas industry pipeline, those natural resources, in order for those projects to be able to go forward within our territories, there is a social license that they have to be able to sign off on.

Thomas Benjoe: [00:30:18] And so that means indigenous engagement, indigenous procurement, all of these things have to happen in order for that project to go forward, which has affected communities and does create a pretty significant impact. But never has the ag industry been put in that position to have to do anything like that. And so what we’re asking the egg industry is to make considerations to start developing their indigenous engagement strategies and procurement policies, not not to just check the box but to actually create impact in the places where they are doing business. It’s in order to maintain that future success of your business. It’s really important that the community around you is successful as well. And if that community around you is made up of a majority of indigenous people, having those strategies in place will benefit your business over the long term. And you look at some of the major projects that are going to go forward in Saskatchewan right now, and we’re already talking labor shortages for most of these major projects. And I’m I’m the chair of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce as well. So I hear these issues day in and day out in our business community, just in general. So I often challenge back and say, Well, what’s what policies or what strategies do you have around indigenous engagement? Because, you know, every company should be talking about this, and you know, it’s a perfect way to fit into their goals around economic reconciliation. And.

Laura Rance: [00:32:13] That was Thomas Benzo, the chief executive officer of HQ Developments based in Regina. You can learn more about the reconciliation process as it relates to agriculture and rural Canada by checking out our truth and reconciliation page. Just do a Google search for Glacier Farm Media Truth and Reconciliation. That’s all we have for you on this week’s edition of Between the Rows. Remember, you can find us on YouTube by searching for Between the Rows podcast. Using the word podcast in that search is important. And please check out our Seeding the Future and Reconciliation coverage by searching for those projects on the Glacier Farm Media Digital site. We’ll be back with another episode of Between the Rows next week. I hope you’ll be back, too. I’m Laura Rance

Commercial: [00:33:13] Part of being a farmer is being an accountant and a mechanic and a chemist. You have lots on the go, so Farm Link makes your grain marketing go further. We help you reach your financial goals with calculated sales decisions. No bias, just solutions and results. Plus, with our new app Grain Fox, we bring every opportunity right to your fingertips. Literally start seeing the returns that’ll get your family ahead. You’ve earned it Farm Link. Your work is worth more. Get started at FarmLinksolutions.ca.

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