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Using today's expanding knowledge of the health attributes of crops, there is great potential for preventative health improvements, says Broadview, Sask., producer Dave Sefton, a director of Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF). "We're learning we can prevent a lot of the health problems that are occurring today by utilizing the health benefits of farm products - be it flax, canola, wheat, barley or oats. We can play a major role in providing an improved wellness diet that helps reduce our reliance on medicine."

Potential is also blossoming on the energy side, he says. "I think this may be our way out of the doldrums in agriculture. People are reluctant to spend more dollars on food. But even though they grumble about the dollars they spend on energy, I don't see a lot of people going back to bicycles.

"When I started in this role of farm advocacy and farm research, people were spending 25 to 35 percent of their disposable income on food. Over 30 years, I've seen the percentage of the disposable income on food go down to five or six percent. At the same time, I've also seen the price of bread go from $0.50 a loaf to about $1.50 a loaf, and a barrel of oil go from about $1.50 a barrel to about $50 a barrel. So I've got a pretty good idea energy is a good wagon to hitch our industry to."

Review of Canada's seed sector rolls along

Phase II of a major review and strategic planning process for Canada's seed sector is delivering results to help the sector manage change to improve its competitiveness.

The Seed Sector Review began as a project to conduct an industry wide assessment of the Canadian seed sector and the Canadian seed regulatory environment, says Monty Doyle, Project Manager of the Seed Sector Review.

"The project was designed to do several things. First, to generate consensus on challenges facing the sector and on options for facilitating constructive change. Second, to develop recommendations for CFIA on regulatory change. And third, to develop recommendations for a permanent consultative process."

Delivering health benefits of barley to consumers

Millhouse, a new barley variety for Western Canada, is opening new doors for the crop.

"Millhouse is the first true milling barley for Canada, if not North America," says Dr. Mario Therrien of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Brandon Research Centre, who bred Millhouse.

"Millhouse is bred to complement wheat for milling purposes, with the advantage that it provides more dietary fibre than wheat could ever provide," says Therrien. "Of course, it also provides all the other unique health benefits of barley. All these benefits have always been there but now we know more about them and how to take advantage of them to provide greatly enhanced products for consumers."

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Farming of the future: Growing health boosters and fuel

Review of Canada's seed sector rolls along

Delivering health benefits of barley to consumers