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Maximize crop potential with the Clearfield Production System.

The Clearfield® Production System was developed to provide growers with unparalleled in-crop weed control for lentils, wheat and sunflowers through a wide selection of high-yielding varieties. By pairing these herbicide-tolerant varieties with complementary crop protection innovations, growers are able to take their crop outputs to heights like never before.

Build a foundation for innovation.

During the ‘80s, the Crop Development Centre (CDC) started breeding lentils, adapting the red lentil germplasm of Middle Eastern origin to the northern temperate region. In 1990, BASF began working with the CDC to develop the first herbicide-tolerant lentil varieties on the market: CDC Impact and CDC Imperial. The development of these imidazolinone-tolerant lentil varieties addressed the biggest issue in lentil production at the time—weed control. Since then, BASF has committed over $12 million toward lentil breeding research through the CDC. There are now 22 Clearfield varieties across all major lentil classes, and we continue to provide a range of seed sizes, cotyledon colours and seed coats to service the world lentil market. Canadian farmers supply approximately 40 per cent of the world’s lentils, making pulse crops an important export for Canada. For 25 years, the partnership between BASF and CDC has helped bring new innovations to market and resulted in a system change for Canadian agriculture.

Continue to invest in innovation in Clearfield wheat. 

In conjunction with BASF, the Crop Development Center developed the only herbicide-tolerant wheat system that delivers complete control of volunteer barley and cereal off-types. It features varieties with high yield potential, reduced lodging and disease resistance while providing a weed control solution specifically designed for use on Clearfield wheat. Continued investment into innovation in Clearfield wheat has resulted in the following:

  • Top-yielding genetics from high-performance wheat varieties
  • Herbicide-tolerant traits to help growers maximize weed control
  • A choice of varieties bred for early maturity, short stature, good standability and resistance to fusarium head blight

Hear from industry experts.

“Together we solved one of the basic issues facing pulse crops in Canada – weeds. The discovery and commercialization of imidazolinone (IMI) herbicide tolerance in lentils was the tool that not only controlled weeds, it helped expand the industry. This technology made growing lentils a more successful and profitable alternative for farmers and ensured that Canada could contribute to the growing global demand for the crop.”

                                                                                                                                                             - Bert Vandenberg, leader of the CDC lentil breeding program

Stay ahead of disease in Clearfield lentils.

BASF continues to support seed innovation by funding Clearfield lentil and wheat breeding at the CDC through the sale of Clearfield herbicides. We also provide assurance to growers through the Advanced Weed Control program and agronomic support for both seed and chemistry. 

Among the top CDC breeding objectives is the improvement of disease resistance, with a focus on ascochyta, anthracnose and stemphylium blight for lentils. Resistance to aphanomyces (wet soil oomycete fungus) is in the works, but it’s a long-term process based on the biology of the fungus that’s active only during wet cycles.

Know the role of Intellectual Property in Canadian agriculture.

Intellectual Property (IP) is created through the development of patentable traits, processes or chemistry. Intellectual Property, such as that related to the Clearfield Production System, has taken on an increasing significance in the agriculture industry over the last 20 years, having been the driver for many of the innovations that have been introduced to Canadian agriculture.

IP is important to all members of the value chain within agriculture for the following reasons:

  • Incentivizes organizations such as BASF to invest in research & development by allowing for a return on that investment 
  • This return can then be re-invested into bringing yet more innovation to the marketplace
    • $12 million invested into Clearfield lentils over the last 20 years
  • The investment that is encouraged by IP provides growers with more varieties, better yields, improved disease resistance and ultimately a higher return on their investment
  • Provides a framework for the proper stewardship (safety, efficacy, and support) of those technologies in the marketplace
  • A good example of this stewardship is the Clearfield-Confirm testing, which BASF pays for, that confirms that the grower’s lentil seed contains the Clearfield trait and expresses a field tolerance level, to facilitate delivery of the full benefits of the Clearfield Production System.

Focus clearly on the future.

The evergreen Clearfield Commitment requires a one-time signature 
that gives growers the license to use the Clearfield patented trait
technology; it also helps confirm trait integrity, germination, vigour
and purity of the seed. In addition, it supports ongoing investment by
BASF into research & development of new Clearfield crop varieties.


Clearfield Lentils
Clearfield Wheat
Grower standing on a sprayer