Farmer Participation in Plant Breeding for Canadian Organic Crop Production: Implications for Adaptation to Climate Uncertainty

Abstract

Organic farming systems present unique challenges that include limitations in available soil nutrients and interference from weeds. They are also vulnerable to environmental fluctuations resulting from climate change. The generation of adapted cultivars with the capacity to evolve under changing conditions may help to meet these challenges. Previous work by our research group demonstrated that directed selection under organic production produces wheat varieties better suited than conventionally selected varieties to organic production. A further step in developing crop varieties adapted to organic production is to directly involve farmers in the selection process through participatory plant breeding (PPB). PPB is particularly effective in stressful or unique growing environments that are underserved by the traditional plant breeding sector. Crop variety development typically takes place under conventional production and organic farmers can likely derive benefits from PPB. We report on a pilot project where 11 organic farmers in Manitoba, Canada were provided with F3 populations of spring wheat. A plant breeder distributed seeds of 3 populations (5000 seeds per population) to the participating farmers, who planted them under their normal cultivation conditions. Farmers identified selection priorities and made selections each year based on their evaluation of the population. After three years of on-farm selection, the performance of wheat populations selected by farmers was compared with registered cultivars in a replicated experiment under organic growing conditions on a research farm. Results from the initial year of testing showed that as a group, the farmer selected populations yielded 107% of conventionally selected cultivars, displayed greater early vigour, were taller and reduced weed biomass compared to the conventional cultivars. By selecting directly in the target environment, farmers are selecting for wheat that is able to thrive under organic production systems. We discuss the implications of this work for organic wheat breeding, functional diversity, and climate adaptation.