“Urgent action is required to save the 2020 AAFC field, lab, and greenhouse activities for wheat and barley research projects,” they said in a news release.
“This farmer-funded research is critical to the competitiveness of Canada’s agriculture industry and cancelling project activities will have repercussions.
“Many of the current projects funded by the Canadian Wheat Research Council, the Canadian Barley Research Council and individual crop commissions are multi-year, multi-site, and multi-cooperator endeavors,” they said.
“The impact of disruptions to this work needs to be considered on a project-to-project and program-to-program basis to minimize the loss of both future productivity and the potential contributions of previous projects. “
They call for a region-by-region review “to evaluate the level of risk and develop safety protocols on a regional basis.
“Prairie universities have established plans that will allow them to safely continue their research activities in 2020.
“Private research institutions have also put plans in place to conduct field research this year with appropriate measures to ensure employee safety.”
Wheat coalition chairman Jason Lenz said “we are facing an unprecedented situation with respect to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety of researchers and other staff is our top priority.
"The universities and private plant breeders have found safe options to conduct their research. We’re confident that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada can also create a plan to continue critical research and provide clarity to western Canadian farmers.”
