Experience the NEXT WAVE!
FP Genetics connects innovative genetic research to Canadian agriculture, with a role of being a conduit between seed breeders and farmers, all coming with its own set of complexities. We identify, commercialize, and distribute crop varieties that address real-world challenges faced by Canadian farmers. This process involves several steps, including acquiring the right germplasm, testing in Canadian conditions, navigating regulatory requirements, and multiplying seed – well before we can market these varieties.
Nathan Penner,
Director of Commercialization
Seed plays an important role in ensuring Canadian farmers remain competitive on a global scale. FP Genetics is a strong supporter of Canadian breeding organizations, and most of our genetics come from these domestic institutions. However, when local sources don’t address the challenges our farmers face, my role as Director of Commercialization requires me to expand that search to northern regions of the United States and Europe, which have similar climates as farmers in Canada. We might be looking for traits that can solve a specific issue such as a new disease, or to fulfill a market demand, like protein fractionation.
It’s not just about identifying current gaps. We must plan for potential problems and market shifts. This proactive approach has us looking ahead to anticipate the needs of farmers eight to ten years in the future. We base our priorities on direct feedback from farmers, agronomists, and researchers – regularly assessing and realigning our focus on developing crop varieties that will benefit Canadian agriculture for years to come.
A large part of my position involves building international relationships with organizations that have materials potentially suited for Canadian agriculture, as well as championing Canadian developed varieties that may be well suited in their markets. This involves frequent meetings, often remotely, but face-to-face interactions are crucial for fostering collaboration, especially with institutions unfamiliar with Canada’s unique agricultural landscape. For many, the concept of selling high quality bulk, certified seeds is foreign. Some are more accustomed to selling by the bag than by the truckload, which is standard in Canada. We also educate them on the intricacies of our country’s seed registration system and highlight our commitment to intellectual property [IP] management in Canada.
Seed plays an important role in ensuring Canadian farmers remain competitive on a global scale.
Once a potential partnership is established, we work closely with these organizations to identify germplasm with the potential to thrive in Canadian conditions. We outline our specific needs – whether it’s disease resistance, quality traits and/or improved agronomics – and they provide options based on those criteria. From there, our Research & Development team, lead by Michelle Beaith, rigorously tests candidate varieties to determine which should advance through the commercialization process.
Not all candidates make it through to market. We maintain very high standards for inclusion in our portfolio. A new variety must offer improvement over what is currently available. Those that don’t meet our criteria are rejected, but those that do make the cut, represent significant victories for Canadian agriculture. These varieties are designed to help farmers maintain their competitive edge in an ever-evolving global marketplace.
Our commitment is to the future of Canadian agriculture. With our vast productive land base, adoption of technology, and a robust foundation in agricultural expertise, Canada is a well-positioned leader. But we cannot be complacent. The global agricultural landscape is constantly evolving, with new market demands and challenges on the horizon. My job is to ensure that we are prepared—not just for today but for the decade ahead.
By continually seeking and developing superior varieties, FP Genetics is ensuring that Canadian farmers remain at the forefront of global agriculture, ready to face the future and its challenges with confidence. Communities will prosper and FARMING WINS.