News Pulses
Seventeen pulse research projects receive funding support

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) has announced funding for 17 pulse-specific research projects, co-funded through Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).

SPG’s total investment of more than $3 million was leveraged through the ADF process for a total investment in pulse research and development of over $6.7 million. These research projects are over two to five years in duration and will involve pea, chickpea, soybean, lentil, dry bean and faba bean, and address disease, root rots, herbicide resistance, insect control, fungicide use, soil fertility management and processing.

“The continued support of the ADF is greatly appreciated,” says Trent Richards, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers board chair. “The funding supports SPG’s new research investments that work to address top concerns and improve profitability and competitiveness of Saskatchewan pulse producers.”

A complete list of projects, including researchers and SPG’s investment, include:

• The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network: Fostering further network development, Dr. Thomas Turkington, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – $37,982
• The effect of liming on soil phosphorus use efficiency and cycling, Dr. Barbara Cade-Menun, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – $49,610
• Examining potential threats from Pea Seed-borne Mosaic Virus and developing Pea Seed-borne Mosaic Virus (PSbMV) based tools to study legume seed development, Dr. Sean Prager, University of Saskatchewan – $86,825
• ROCET – Rapid, on-farm, cost-efficient electrochemical testing for contaminants in grain, Dr. Sabine Kuss, University of Manitoba – $52,095
• Insect response to climate change and ag-inputs across the Prairies, Dr. Meghan Vankosky, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – $88,000
• Flax-chickpea intercropping for disease management – fungicide regime and variety selection, Randy Kutcher, University of Saskatchewan – $129,950
• Exploring the diversity of Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum infecting pulse crops, Dr. Sabine Banniza, University of Saskatchewan – $155,906
• Development of molecular tools for Fusarium avenaceum root rot resistance in lentil with different seed coat pigmentation, Dr. Sabine Banniza, University of Saskatchewan – $484,168
• Developing soybean cultivars for profitable, sustainable prairie cropping systems, Dr. Tom Warkentin, University of Saskatchewan – $310,788
• Increasing protein-yield in pea using nested association mapping, Dr. Tom Warkentin, University of Saskatchewan – $160,354
• Development of SNP markers for marker-assisted selection of pea for water use efficiency and micronutrients, Dr. Tom Warkentin, University of Saskatchewan – $66,555
• Genetic tools to ensure Saskatchewan dry beans are protected from anthracnose, Dr. Kirstin Bett, University of Saskatchewan – $148,765
• Reduction of off-flavors and improvement of color of plant proteins: Potential and feasibility of ozone treatment processes, Jafar Soltan, University of Saskatchewan – $51,750
• Commercially-ready vegan protein-based entrapment systems for probiotics for inclusion in plant-based foods, Darren Korber, University of Saskatchewan – $34,500
• Expanding herbicide tolerance options in lentil through gene-editing, Dr. Jodi Souter, J4 Agri-Sciences Ltd. – $557,001
• Develop a novel tribo-electrostatic (TES) technique for dry separation of protein and starch from pulses/cereals, Venkatesh Meda, University of Saskatchewan – $343,850
• Improving flavor of pea protein using clean-label structural modifications and different pilot-scale processing techniques, Dr. Thushan Withana-Gamage, KeyLeaf – $251,419

Other co-funders of projects funded by SPG include Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, Alberta Wheat Commission, Manitoba Canola Growers, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Prairie Oat Growers Association and Western Grains Research Foundation. The ADF is supported through the federal-provincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership, between the federal and provincial governments to invest in strategic initiatives for Saskatchewan agriculture.