USask College of Agriculture and Bioresources receives $13.7 million for agricultural research

A total of 38 projects were funded in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, with 21 of these projects receiving funding from the ADF and industry co-funders. 

The ADF is supported through the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP), an investment of $3.5 billion over five years from federal, provincial and territorial governments with the goal of supporting the agri-food and agri-product sectors across Canada. The Sustainable CAP includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment for programs designed by provinces and territories that is cost-shared 60 per cent by the federal government and 40 per cent by provincial/territorial governments.  

Industry co-funders include Alberta Grains, the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, and the Western Grains Research Foundation.

Projects supported by this funding include research in genomic analysis of crop species, livestock management strategies, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through crop rotation behavioural analyses, methods for improving crop yields through changing climate conditions, and genomic development of animal feeds.

“Our researchers are exploring new technologies, and developing innovative solutions and value-added products that contribute to Saskatchewan’s agricultural leadership,” said Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn, dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. “We are grateful for the support from the federal and provincial governments and our industry partners that enables the essential research needed to adapt to changing environments and provide a sustainable future.”

In addition to advancing research, the funding supports development of knowledge and tools for producers and provides training opportunities for students.

“Farmers' dedication to advancing crop research is clearly demonstrated through their investments in these projects," said Laura Reiter, Western Grains Research Foundation Board Chair. "The collection of world-class scientists and technicians at the University of Saskatchewan will continue to advance areas of varietal resilience, soil health, disease management, and crop production strategies. As farmers, we understand the significance of investing in crucial research areas. Co-funding partnerships allow us to maximize our investments and collectively address the challenges for agriculture." 

Agriculture is one of the signature areas of research at the University of Saskatchewan. For over 110 years, the College of Agriculture and Bioresources has been providing innovative solutions to meet the demands of a hungry and growing world.

For more information on USask ADF funded projects, see the crop-related projects and livestock-related projects announcements.

Dr. Sabine Banniza (PhD) – Development of a rapid screening technique for Aphanomyces root rot in pea and lentil – $65,733 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and the Western Grains Research Foundation 

Banniza ­– Development of advanced lentil lines with partially resistance against race 0 of Colletotrichum lentis causing anthracnose – $316,494 ­– Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers 

Dr. Adam Carter (PhD) – Accelerating grain dry-down of wheat in a standing crop – funded by the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation

Dr. Kirstin Bett (PhD) – Crop rotation: Using selection targets to improve lentil and wheat performance in a changing climate – $625,000 

Dr. Rosalind Bueckert (PhD) – Temperature, soybean protein and seed filling – $20,125 

Bueckert – Soybean leaf area and leaf nitrogen – $165,485 

Bueckert – Building a better nitrogen pantry in pea – $195,385 

Dr. Kate Congreves (PhD) – Crops with benefits: using rotations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - $421,246 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers  

Dr. Supratim Ghosh (PhD) – Improving food application of prairie crop-based oleosomes by modifying their structure and functionality – $235,000 

Dr. Randy Kutcher (PhD) ­– Assessing seed to seedling transmission of Xanthomonas translucens causing BLS of cereals to establish inoculum thresholds – $179,457 – Co-funded by Alberta Grains, the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation  

Kutcher – Catch me if you can:  identifying newly emerging and masked mycotoxins in cereal grains –Funded by the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation  

Dr. Patrick Lloyd-Smith (PhD) – Developing irrigation economic models to improve producer outcomes and sustainable agricultural water management in Saskatchewan – $200,000 

Dr. Rex Newkirk (PhD) – Total utilization of canola by-products after oil extraction – $225,000 

Dr. Michael Nickerson (PhD) – Development of a commercial wet fractionation process for producing novel oat protein ingredients – $244,000 

Nickerson – Development of faba bean and oat-based texturized vegetable proteins as meat analogues – $210,000 

Dr. Curtis Pozniak (PhD) – Improving accessibility of FHB resistance in wheat – $242,501 – Co-funded by the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation  

Pozniak (PhD) – Genomic assisted breeding for heat and drought tolerance in wheat ­– $355,000 – Co-funded by the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation  

Dr. Sean Prager (PhD) – Studying sclerotinia sclerotiorum-infecting viruses collected from Saskatchean for their potential role in disease control – Funded by the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation

Dr. Martin Reaney (PhD) – Total utilization of oilseed hull: Canola, flaxseed, and borage – $360,000 

Dr. Jeff Schoenau (PhD) ­– Land application of spent filtration earth from canola oil production to improve soil properties – $118,200 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission  

Schoenau – Effect of calcium containing soil amendments on soil conditions, plant growth and greenhouse gas emissions – $55,500 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation  

Dr. Steve Shirtliffe (PhD) – Digital phenotyping to accelerate wheat breeding – $315,353 – Co-funded by the Alberta Grains, the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation 

Shirtliffe – Big Data and Machine Learning to Map and Manage the Causes of Spatial Variability in Crop Yield – Funded by the Western Grains Research Foundation

Dr. Bunyamin Tar’an (PhD) – Improvement of phosphorus use efficiency and abiotic stress tolerance in chickpea – $489,613 

Tar’an (PhD) – Enhancing genetic gain for yield, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in flax – $317,371 – Co-funded by the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation 

Dr. Tom Warkentin (PhD) – PeaTILL – A TILLING population for improvement of yield, seed protein concentration and resistance to root rots in pea – $294,113 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers  

Dr. Christian Willenborg (PhD) – Improving weed management for Saskatchewan growers – $492,683 

Dr. Mika Asai-Coakwell (PhD) – Genomic association analysis of forage efficiency in beef cows – $147,992 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association 

Dr. Aaron Beattie (PhD) – Improving forage barley and oat varieties through novel traits and UAV-based phenotyping - $494,500 

Dr. Bill Biligetu (PhD) – Development of new red clover cultivars for Western Canada – $304,433 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission 

Biligetu – Genetic, genomic, and agronomic approaches to improve a non-bloat legume – Cicer milkvetch productivity and adoption in Western Canada – $365,595 

Dr. Breeanna Kelln (PhD) – Evaluation of stocking rate, grazing duration and recovery times on native grassland – $109,737 

Kelln – Cereal-pea polyculture for silage: effect on forage production, ruminal fermentation, GHG emission and economics – $129,854 

Dr. Bart Lardner (PhD) – Evaluation of perennial forages under grazing for enhanced environmental sustainability and animal health – $319,600 

Kathy Larson – A decade on: How have the 35 ranchers under 35 fared? – $69,566 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association 

Dr. Rex Newkirk (PhD) – Development of a co-extruded canola meal and pea starch product to replace dietary soybean meal – $187,298 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers 

Dr. Gregory Penner (PhD) – Addressing high sulfate water for cattle and sheep – $596,463 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association 

Dr. Gabriel Ribeiro (PhD) – New perennial forages selected for improved yield, environment resilience, nutritional value, and carbon hoofprint – $113,898 – Co-funded by the Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission