b"A Vision for the Future for 20 years while in Europe breeders have protection for 30 Potato breeders in Canada do see a future for private potatoyears. breeding, however their views on that future vary. The CPPBNI think there's a strong case to be made that if Canada can is in discussion with AAFC as the two want to collaborate onincrease the duration of protection to something longer than 20 breeding work including the sharing of information, equipment,years, it might be beneficial to a crop like potatoes that take so and other resources the public program and private breederlong to breed and so long to get market adoption, Parker says.network both have. There are also opportunities for breeders when it comes to Ag Canada is a public institution; it's paid for by Canadianthe marketing of potatoes. HZPC sees growth for the industry taxpayers dollars. And the private breeders feel it's only fair thatthrough the commoditization of potatoes and educating we should be able to access some of these services that are thatconsumers to buy based on potato variety not colour. Similar are paid for by the public, Robert explains. to how weve seen craft beer become popular, we are seeing While AAFC is in support of private potato breeding, its stillthat happen in potatoes with people learning how different trying to sort out the right balance between public and privatevarieties of potatoes cook and what they are good to be used for, programs. De Koeyer says its about finding the right balance inDerbidge says.Canada of public research to economically driven private research. There really are substantial differences in how they perform There's very little private breeding in in the U.S. and Canada,in the kitchen, how they taste, what they complement well, we're kind of in a transition, we have both. So, it's importantwith what they pair well with. All of the varieties are distinctly the government is also able to take a longer-term view of whatdifferent.is needed in varieties, not just yield, he explains. There isn'tHe points to Europe and Idaho where the varietal information a perfect system. I think we need to have the research done inis listed on potato bags as what HZPC would like to see across governments or universities. And there is a role for the privateNorth America.sector. At the end of the day, potato breeding in Canada has come Canada does still have work to do on PBR, which coulda long way, and now with both private and public breeding in turn attract more breeders to the country in the long run.happening, theres more options than ever of potatoes to be Currently Canadas PBR legislation only provides IP protectiongrown across the country. SPUDSMART.COM Summer 202215"