by Monica Gordon, Ag-West Bio Hundreds of agricultural science experts came together on June 14-16 at the Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon, to discuss a one of the most pressing issues facing the human race: how can we ensure that everyone on our planet has enough to eat?  The Emerging Tech …

A growing number of notable speakers will be heading to Fargo, North Dakota, Sept. 18-21, 2016, as plans take shape for the annual Agricultural Bioscience International Conference. The event, considered to be the premier global meeting promoting innovation in agricultural bioscience, is being he …

by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Farmers in Western Canada know the benefits of well thought-out crop rotations. These can reduce the impact of harmful insects, reduce the amount of fertilizer needed, improve soil health and lengthen the period when specially bred crops remain resistant to dis …

by Elizabeth Shih Agriculture faces a daunting challenge: to sustainably feed 9.2 billion–the projected world population–by 2050. Of the anticipated increase, 86% will be in the developing world. Professor Sarah Gurr, Chair in Food Security and Head of Biosciences, University …

The Emerging Technologies for Global Food Security conference, with the theme Mobilization to the Developing World, will be available for global audiences to watch LIVE via YouTube, anywhere in the world.  This international conference will bring 300 scientists, policy makers and industry re …

This year marks the 20th year of Canadian production of genetically modified crops. We recently completed a major review for the journal, Global Food Security, on what the effect of GM crops has been in Canada and globally. Our conclusion? There have been substantial benefits for consumers, farmers, …

When A&W Restaurants first rolled out their “Better Beef” marketing campaign touting the merits of beef “raised without the use of hormones and steroids” and other similar claims, the agricultural community was quick to cry foul.  Science bloggers and cattle produ …

by Nyasha Mudukuti My country’s government would rather see people starve than let them eat genetically modified food. That’s the only conclusion to draw from the announcement in February that Zimbabwe will reject any food aid that comes in the form of GMOs, despite the fact that w …

  The Census of Agriculture is on the horizon. In early May, producers will receive a letter with easy to follow instructions on how to complete the questionnaire.  Census of Agriculture data are the definitive source of community-level data. By drawing on these data, decision ma …

An exciting new conference is being launched in Saskatoon this year, hosted by the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS). Emerging Technologies for Global Food Security: Mobilizing to the Developing World is set to run from June 14-16 at the Delta Bessborough Hotel. GIFS, Ag-West Bio and the ABI …

Farmers looking out for farmers  “It was a group of farmers who got together to suggest to the government of the day that those funds should be used to fund crop research,” says Lorence Peterson, past Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) executive director, of the beginnings …

  by Jan Cote, AAFC, Ag in the City Chair The fifth annual Agriculture in the City will be held at the Mall at Lawson Heights, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Saturday April 9, 2016. Ag in the City is a free, family event that that demonstrates the role agriculture plays in everyone&rsqu …

by Noelle Chorney, TallOrder Communications On February 26, Erin Armstrong, CEO of the newly formed Limagrain Cereals Research Canada (LCRC), spoke at Innovation Place about this venture, a partnership between Canterra Seeds and Limagrain that will strengthen Saskatoon’s position as a leadi …

Sustainability is back on the agenda and replacing Survival as the ‘S’ word our industry has concentrated on for the past decade. Sustainability is a term that has become very familiar to us. Some of the original uses of the term were in the science of ecology and pertains to the interac …

by Jackie Robin, Ag-West Bio Rex Newkirk seems to have found his ideal job as the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Endowed Research Chair in Feed Processing Technology at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). He gets to use the experience he has acquired over the years as an entrepreneur a …

by Ellen Grueter, SaskCanola Social license is a topic that is front and centre and the focus of much discussion in our industry these days. As an industry whose success has been built on innovation, the canola sector continues to advocate for evidence-based decision making. Canada has one o …

Ag-West Bio is proud to continue our official partnership with Agriculture More Than Ever. Three years ago we forged a relationship with Ag More Than Ever to help tell the real, positive story of our industry. And we’re thrilled to continue the journey together. Ag More Than Ever is a …

by Stuart Smyth Your farm's data can help to inform governments Change frequently happens slowly, we may not notice that things are done differently today than previously until we actually stop and consider what has really changed. We have accepted many innovative changes, such as our use …

SASKATOON - A Saskatoon group has won the bid to host the 2019 International Wheat Congress, a first-of-its-kind event that will bring together more than 600 wheat scientists to discuss advances in wheat research and the future of wheat in helping avert a global food security crisis by 2050. The …

by Michael Robin, University of Saskatchewan Farmer-driven research and development has been the hallmark of pulse crop production in Saskatchewan since the first varieties were developed at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre 40 years ago. “In terms of researc …

by Monica Gordon, Ag-West Bio Saskatchewan has a well-earned reputation as one of the major agricultural provinces of Canada. When people think of Saskatchewan, they typically think of wide expanses of prairie and fields before anything else. Given our history, it’s only natural that a …

by Stuart Smyth Recently I was in Amsterdam attending and speaking at a conference that is focused on better understanding the production, and international trade of, different types of crops. Not production and trade of different commodities, such as wheat, barley or flax, but the different kind …

The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) has recruited Tim Sharbel as its first research leader, an internationally renowned plant scientist from Germany whose research into a cost-effective way to produce seeds without pollination could improve agriculture and help combat global hunger. As …

Rob Saik, CEO of Agri-Trend, presented this public lecture at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon on November 4, 2015 during National Biotech Week. Introduction is by Janice Tranberg, Executive Director of SaskCanola.

High-throughput plant imaging Over the next 50 years, farmers will need to grow more food than has cumulatively been grown since mankind emerged. While the first Green Revolution radically boosted crop production, we’re in need of another big boost. A technology with significant prom …

                License to Farm is a short documentary exploring the role of science, sustainability and food safety in modern agriculture, encouraging farmers to stand up for their right to farm. Growing concern over consumer fear …

by Victoria Martinez, Canadian Light Source Chronic Wasting Disease threatens populations of mule deer, white tail deer and elk throughout the prairies, and scientists are working hard towards finding a solution.  Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer and elk, like Bovine Spongifor …

by David Roberts, Smart Earth Seeds, Linnaeus Plant Sciences It seems ironic but a solution to the overfishing crisis in the worlds' oceans can be directly tied to the productivity and ingenuity of dryland farmers in Western Canada. A new research study confirms that meal and oil derived …

by Shayla Hertz I have been asked to share my perspective, as a current agriculture student, on environmentalism and the importance of science in agriculture. I grew up on a grain farm outside of Edenwold, Saskatchewan and was raised in a community thriving with farmers. When I graduated from hig …

by Shelley Jones Improving the public perception of agriculture is a strategic priority for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. It is written right into our business plan. As a government, it is our goal to see the industry grow. But without the public’s understanding, the public&rsqu …

by Noelle Chorney For the first time ever, researchers have identified a weed—Elusine indica—that is resistant to all major non-selective herbicide groups: glufosinate, glyphosate and paraquat. While the situation is not as dire in Canada yet, it is crucial that we take steps to …

by Noelle Chorney In many parts of the world, the rate of increase on grain yields is slowing. Researchers in places like Australia are racing the clock to find solutions before there is an actual drop in yield. Jose Jimenez-Berni, Research Scientist at the Agriculture Flagship at CSIRO, Austr …

Saskatchewan’s vibrant canola fields are in full bloom and so is the industry’s calendar this summer season, including the 14th International Rapeseed Congress (IRC) held in Saskatoon from July 5 to 9. Co-hosted by Ag-West Bio and the Canola Council of Canada, it is the most comprehensiv …

This captivating video illustrates some of the resources that the Saskatchewan Bioscience Cluster has to offer.  

The following blog was written by Dr. Graham Scoles in response to a column by Paul Hanley “Chemical-free farming viable” in which he poked fun at Patrick Moore for refusing to drink Roundup herbicide during a TV interview. So Patrick Moore refused to drink the Roundup. He might also …

Last weekend marked the third annual “March Against Monsanto” in which protestors took up placards in various cities around the world to voice their fears about genetic modification (GM) of crops. As earnest as these people are, their fears are baseless; after two decades of harvestin …

As was expected, recent changes to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights legislation are delivering new crop varieties to Canadian farmers.  The Plant Breeders’ Rights Office (PBRO) has granted rights under the new legislation (PBR91) to 12 new agricultural crop varieties, develo …

by Graham Scoles Despite the fact that our agriculture systems produce more food than ever, modern agricultural systems seem to be coming under increasing attack, particularly in Europe and North America. I would contend that while our present agricultural systems have their faults, no alternate …

Synchrotron research could give rise to better yields and varieties by Mark Ferguson, CLS A nasty disease that can wreak havoc on wheat crops has been identified by scientists, allowing plant breeders to develop better varieties with higher yields for farmers.  Known as Fusarium head b …

by Kris Foster, University of Saskatchewan Tiny helicopters flying over crop fields may become a common sight thanks to a research partnership between the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and a Saskatoon-based company. Drones outfitted with a specialized camera will enable agriculture produ …

Phosphorus is a chemical element essential for life. Without adequate phosphorus, plant growth and crop yield are reduced. As plants grow, they remove phosphorus from the soil, which is subsequently removed from fields when crops are harvested. As a result, fertilizers containing phosphorus compound …

by Michael Robin, University of Saskatchewan Whether it’s hormones in beef and preservatives in bacon, or pesticides and genetically modified foods, Stuart Smyth at the University of Saskatchewan wants to be part of the conversation. “If someone’s looking for information …

by Brad Bly, Ag-West Bio The first quarter or 2015 saw a number of long-standing dominoes fall for Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF), a Canadian biotechnology company based in Summerland, BC. The company’s flagship project, nonbrowning Arctic® apples, received commercial approval in both …

by Noelle Chorney Saskatchewan grows 96% of Canada’s lentils, 90% of its chickpeas, and 70% of its peas, and is projected to produce three million metric tons of lentils in 2015. But while we have tapped many of the traditional export pulse markets, there is great potential to expand in …

by Jackie Robin, AWB In a California lab in the 1980s, U.S. researcher Richard Jorgensen tried to develop an intense-purple petunia by adding an extra gene. He got a white flower instead. It took more than a decade for scientists to fully understand what had happened, but now they know: Jorgen …