Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council

Project Description

This project sought proof of the concept that aptamer technology developed by NeoVentures Biotechnology Inc. is an effective means of identifying varieties contained in a random sample of wheat.

Project Objectives

To identify options that will enable the registration of feed and industrial wheat varieties that are presently limited by Kernel Visual Distinguish ability (KVD) restrictions on registration. One of the keys to bringing these new varieties to commercialization is the ability of the grain handling system to readily identify varieties within a sample of grain to ensure that buyers know what varieties are being delivered.

General Information

Performance Story:

In a globally competitive marketplace, Canadian grain producers would have a competitive advantage if they could deliver specific crop varieties to market with a guarantee of their crop's precise identity.  Considerable research has been directed towards the development of a system that would enable variety identification of wheat kernels at the primary point of delivery.  The system explored in this project has the potential to enable rapid and quantitative identification of varieties without a requirement for grain processing or grinding.

This project provided proof of concept that the aptamer technology developed by NeoVentures Biotechnology Inc. is an effective means of differentiating between AC Barrie and AC Vista wheat varieties. The project results were positively received by scientists at the Canadian Grain Commission who acknowledged that this was an exciting approach to variety identification.

With the proof of concept complete, the next step would be to demonstrate the feasibility of using the NeoVentures procedure to distinguish wheat varieties within a wheat class.