WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — Bayer Crop Science broke ground Oct. 16 on a canola innovation center that will house seed development work for canola, camelina and winter canola, focusing on trait integration, yield trial seed processing and seed quality analysis.

The company is investing C$50 million ($36.5 million) in the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, facility. Plans were first announced in January.

“Over the last few years our canola breeding program has been completely redesigned through next generation precision breeding capabilities,” said Mike Graham, Crop Science R&D lead, when the project was first announced. “These shifts have enabled us to greatly accelerate genetic gain, build industry-leading disease resistance, drive increases in field data collection that improve product positioning, and enable delivery at scale of expanded herbicide tolerance trait options. This infrastructure boost in Canada supports this shift and will advance future innovation in canola and biofuels.”

Bayer said it expects the facility to be operational by the end of 2028. It will consolidate some of its canola breeding operations and seed generation activities.

Bayer’s current Smartpark site in Winnipeg will continue to perform early breeding workflows for canola, while the current Carman site will focus on being a multi-crop nursery field operation.

Susan Reidy is senior editor with World Grain and editor of the Grain & Milling Annual. She has 21 years of experience covering the grain handling and milling industries, the past 17 years with Sosland Publishing Company. She received a bachelor’s of journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Connect with Susan Reidy on LinkedIn or via email.