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By Pattison Media

BASF expands canola breeding program

Mar 17, 2026 | 12:21 PM

BASF Agricultural Solutions (BASF) will invest $27 million into its Canola Breeding Centre of Innovation near Saskatoon, Sask. 

BASF Agricultural Solutions President Livio Tedeschi said the expansion marks the next chapter in enhancing breeding capacity, integrating advanced automation, and accelerating the development of new hybrids.  

“Canola is a strategic crop for our Agricultural Solutions business, playing a crucial role for Canadian farmers and supporting food production worldwide,” Tedeschi said. “This investment underscores our commitment to advancing our entire portfolio of canola. As the global leader in canola production and innovation, BASF is proud to invest in its future innovation capabilities.” 

A key component of the Saskatoon facility is the development of new infrastructure to support precision-controlled environment growth systems and high throughput automation pipelines which are critical to implementing genomic selection at scale, enabling faster, more precise breeding decisions and accelerating genetic gain across all InVigor programs.  

By increasing breeding throughput and improving predictive capabilities, BASF can shorten cycles and deliver improved hybrids to the market more efficiently. 

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The expansion also includes a new advanced research-grade glasshouse designed to support future hybrid breeding programs.  

BASF Canola Breeding Manager Jeff Mansiere said this will enhance the ability to integrate advanced breeding technologies into North American seeds and traits portfolio. 

“By expanding our Saskatoon breeding facility, we are enabling InVigor growers across North America to have access to world-class genetics for years to come while also supporting our European and Australian breeding programs,” Mansiere said. 

Construction will begin this spring. 

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com