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The elephant in the room

As Canada targets a globally competitive research base, cereal crop development may be like "the elephant in the room" - the powerful force that's being overlooked.

At a fundamental level, there is no secret what Canada is looking for in agriculture and agri-food research.

The critical mass - top minds, manpower and resources - to compete globally and fuel Canada's economy. Strong value-added potential. Production systems that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. An industry the world can be proud of, and one it will buy from.

Research funders, decision-makers and stakeholders have wrestled with the best research design to meet these demands. They like the novel, the value-added, the quick payoff. But in their fascination with the futuristic, they may risk overlooking the value of the more traditional.

Crop development research for cereal crops - such as wheat, barley and oats - is an example. Though often under the radar, this is one of Canada's strongest and most essential areas of agricultural research capacity, with a national network built over decades. The crops it supports dominate production, fuel several multi-billion dollar industries and are a critical foundation to the emerging revolution in bio-potential.

Canada owes itself to ensure the value of crop development is not overlooked. This report recaps some of the key points to consider, from what crop research is really worth and how it delivers value, to what Canada's competitors are doing and what the world wants from bio-progress. When these points are taken into account, the search for research excellence may lead to a not-too-distant destination.

Next: What's crop research worth?