Private-Public R&D in the Development of the Canola Industry in Canada

Canola has emerged as one of the world’s largest and most important edible oil crops through a mix of government action, private investment, farmer organization, and industry engagement. For the most part, the key activities have been led by or undertaken in Canada, not traditionally viewed as one of the agrifood innovation powerhouses. In many ways, this case represents the best of adoption theory in practice. Purposeful research partnerships and teams led to innovative product attributes that needed regulatory approval, then farmer acceptance, industry adaptation, and consumer demand. This has involved a nested set of investment and engagement processes that over the past 40 years have variously brought forth new varieties with improved agronomic and nutritional properties, new biotechnology traits, and a range of industrial and pharmaceutical attributes, all while maintaining both a role for producers in the research system and significant competition in the research, seed, marketing, and food processing sectors. Along the way, the industry has had to develop a range of new systems, including industry-managed identity-preserving production and marketing systems and strict segregation structures.