A Combine to Customer experience

Coles Ag on September 9, 2025

By Andrew Hector, Agronomy and Extension Specialist – Cereal Crops

Annually, during the winter months long after the combines have finished rolling, Cereals Canada offers a one-of-a-kind program called Combine to Customer. This program connects farmers to how their grain is used in the global marketplace. Canadian cereal grains are some of the highest-quality grains produced in the world and are used in numerous goods, such as breads, noodles, pastas, crackers and more. This program illustrates why.

Taking place at Cereals Canada’s facilities in Winnipeg, this hands-on course provides insights into the quality requirements end-users are seeking, the impact of wheat grading factors on end-use quality, the variety development and registration system, and much more. It really helps provide context to why your elevator or grain buyer needs a specific falling number minimum or other quality requirements. It also answers questions around why common farm management practices are used in western Canadian production systems. 

Additionally, the program showcases the Cereals Canada facilities and how much work and technology goes into the evaluation of grain and end-use product quality. There are demonstrations of technical equipment that measures variables relating to flour quality, dough strength and bread structure. The Canadian grain market outlook and major export markets are also covered through in-person classroom projects.

At the end of the experience, this program provided me and other participants with a much deeper understanding of what happens after grain leaves the farm and why Canadian cereals are viewed as a premium product around the world.

For more information about the program, visit combinetocustomer.ca.

Winter Wheat Variety Yield and Market Share Data – 2025

Coles Ag on September 8, 2025

Winter wheat data from the 2024-2025 Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Trials (MCVET) is in! This data provides farmers with unbiased information regarding regional variety performance, allowing for variety comparison. Data was derived from small plot replicated trails from locations across Manitoba. Fungicides were not applied to these plots; thus, true genetic potential can be evaluated. Although considerable data is collected from MCVET, the disease ratings are from variety registration data.

Table 1. 2025 MCVET Winter Wheat Variety Descriptions (Table sourced from the 2024-2025 winter cereal MCVET trial and Seed Manitoba)

Table 2 below summarizes the yield results from the 2025 MCVET data by trial location. The yield results represent 2025 data only; therefore long-term trends should be considered when making variety selection decisions. Previous yield data can be found in past editions of Seed Manitoba. As well, apart from yield, there are other variety characteristics to consider when making variety selection decisions, these include disease, insect, and lodging resistance. Check out this Manitoba Crop Alliance article for more information on considerations when selecting a new cereal variety.

Table 2 also indicates if there were yield differences between varieties at each trial site. If there was a significant yield difference the least significant difference (LSD) is also included. The LSD (bu/ac) signifies the smallest difference necessary in bushels per acre for two varieties to be considered statistically significantly different from each other.

Table 2. 2025 MCVET winter wheat trial yield comparison (Table sourced from the 2024-2025 winter cereal MCVET trial and Seed Manitoba).

The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) has also released its 2025 Variety Market Share Report. This report breaks down the number of acres seeded to each crop type in Manitoba. As well, the relative percentage of acres each variety was seeded on within each crop type is reported. This information is useful to understand overall production patterns in Manitoba. A link to the 2025 report can be found here.

It is important to note that farmer members’ dollars directly contributed to the plant breeding research activities which were instrumental in the development of the top winter wheat varieties.

Select takeaways

A small number of winter wheat acres were seeded again in the 2024-2025 growing year, with approximately 41,000 acres seeded.

Figure 1. Summary of the amount of winter wheat acres seeded in Manitoba over the last six growing seasons. Data obtained from MASC Variety Market Share Reports from 2020-2025.

Seven varieties by percentage acres seeded are listed in Table 3, these are not the only varieties listed in this year’s MASC Variety Market Share Report, but represent 95 per cent of the seeded acres. All seven seeded varieties are Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat.

Table 3. 2025 seven winter wheat varieties by percentage of seeded acres in Manitoba.

Variety

Wheat Class

Relative Acreage (%)*

AAC Wildfire

CWRW

39.5

AAC Vortex

CWRW

22.5

Emerson

CWRW

12.7

AAC Goldrush

CWRW

6.7

AAC Overdrive

CWRW

6.2

AAC Coldfront

CWRW

4.8

CDC Buteo

CWRW

2.5

Note: * Data obtained from MASC 2025 Variety Market Share Report.

AAC Wildfire was the top seeded winter wheat variety, occupying 39.5 per cent of seeded winter wheat acres. This is a decrease of just over 13 per cent from 2024. AAC Wildfire was registered in 2015. AAC Vortex, which was registered in 2021, was seeded on just over 22 per cent of acres in 2025, up around 13 per cent from 2024. AAC Vortex is a medium-maturing variety with relative winter hardiness. AAC Goldrush, which was registered in 2016, decreased in percentage of acres seeded by just over one per cent from 2024 to 2025. AAC Overdrive, which was registered in 2022, increased by six per cent in 2025. Emerson, which has a Fusarium head blight rating of “resistant,” has been the most seeded variety in Manitoba for several years. However, its acreage has continued to drop in 2025.

Seed Manitoba Variety Selection and Growers Source Guide should be consulted when making variety selections.

Connecting the Farm Gate to Parliament Hill

Coles Ag on September 8, 2025

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By Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of Grain Growers of Canada

The parliamentary summer recess left many questions unresolved as issues of trade, taxation and economic competitiveness took centre stage. While Ottawa was quiet, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) was active in the field, using the summer months to connect directly with producers and show policymakers the real-world impact of federal decisions on grain farming.

In August, we travelled from Manitoba through Saskatchewan and into Alberta on the annual GGC Summer Tour. Over five days and over 2,000 kilometres, the tour provided an opportunity to walk fields, see crop conditions firsthand and visit the operations of directors and members. Each stop highlighted both the diversity and the shared challenges of grain farming, from crop rotations and new varieties to high input costs, weather extremes and market volatility.

The tour also created a platform to connect with local Members of Parliament and the media. MP Colin Reynolds joined us near Steinbach. MB, for a tour of Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) delegate Korey Peters’ farm. This was followed by a tour of MCA and GGC vice-chair Sally Parsonage’s operation with a reporter from Reuters. In Saskatchewan, MP Cathay Wagantall met producers near Churchbridge, while MP Fraser Tolmie toured a farm near Davidson. In Alberta, additional tours were hosted in Killam and Smoky Lake. These conversations reinforced the importance of grounding policy debates in the realities faced by farmers.

The tour brought into focus the issues that will shape the fall: current volatility in Canada’s key trade relationships, trade-enabling infrastructure at capacity and taxation uncertainty. These challenges mirror the concerns producers have been raising for months and will define the policy debates as Parliament reconvenes.

Trade remains central to Canadian agriculture. More than 70 per cent of Canadian grain is exported, making access to markets essential for farm incomes and rural communities. Yet, access to certain markets is getting increasingly difficult. The 2026 CUSMA review raises questions about the future of tariff-free trade with the United States, while tensions with China continue to restrict opportunities for Canadian products. With $45 billion in exports at stake, we will continue to push for policies that defend existing access and open new markets.

Market access, however, is only as strong as the infrastructure that delivers it internationally. Canada’s railways and ports are already stretched, leading to delays that raise costs and undermine Canada’s reliability as a supplier. Bottlenecks threaten contracts, international relationships and competitiveness. As government prioritizes economic growth, we will advocate for trade-enabling infrastructure to be a central part of that plan.

Inside the farm gate, taxation uncertainty remains a major concern. Proposed increases to the capital gains tax risk placing additional burdens on succession and retirement, threatening the viability of family farms already under financial pressure. While government has signaled the increase will not proceed, no formal withdrawal has been made, leaving the change deferred to January 2026. With hundreds of family farms lost each year, we continue to call for permanent removal of the tax increase.

Carbon pricing is another file where clarity is needed. Although the tax on propane and natural gas used on-farm is currently set to zero, the legislation remains in place, leaving farmers exposed to future increases. These fuels are essential for grain drying and barn heating, with no viable alternatives available. A permanent exemption is needed to provide farmers with the certainty to plan, invest and innovate.

The summer provided an opportunity to listen, reflect and prepare. Now, as Parliament reconvenes, we will carry those conversations into Ottawa. The focus this fall will be on securing investment in infrastructure, defending trade access, protecting farm succession and ensuring fairness on carbon pricing. The voices of Canada’s grain farmers will be brought to Parliament Hill with one goal: to strengthen the sector, enhance competitiveness and secure the future of Canadian farming.

George diCenzo, associate professor, Queens University

Coles Ag on September 8, 2025

Follow @George_diCenzo on X or connect with him on LinkedIn.
Follow @George_diCenzo on X or connect with him on LinkedIn.

George diCenzo is an associate professor in the Department of Biology and cross-appointed to the Department of Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University. He also holds an adjunct professor position at the University of Manitoba (UM) in the Department of Microbiology.

diCenzo completed his undergraduate and PhD studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, before moving to Italy for his postdoc at the University of Florence.

He lives in Kingston, ON, with his partner, Rebecca Doyle, who’s also a professor that studies rhizobia and rhizobial inoculants for agriculture.

Where did you work before Queen’s University?

Before joining Queen’s as an assistant professor, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Florence in Italy.

What got you interested in this area of work?

It was partly by chance. I was always interested in biology, sciences and research. At one point, I thought I’d be more involved in medically related research. In my second year of undergrad, I was trying to get into a lab to do research in the summer and got one offer for a spot that following summer, Turlough Finan’s Lab, which studied rhizobia. It was more fundamental research, but it was with this agriculturally important bacterium. I took that position, worked in the lab that summer and I really loved working there and all the research we were doing.

I went back the summer after my third year, stayed for a fourth-year thesis and did my PhD thesis all in that same lab. So, in a way, I got into the broader area of working with rhizobia by chance; it was the one lab that gave me a spot when I first applied, and I really enjoyed it.

Tell us a bit about what you’re working on at Queen’s and the UM.

There are three main aspects of my research. One is fundamental work with rhizobia, nitrogen-fixing bacteria that interact with legume plants. We study their genomics, metabolism and diversity to build new knowledge that can support agriculture.

Another area is plastic biodegradation, which is separate from our agriculture work. We’re looking for microbes and enzymes that can break down different plastics for recycling. That’s where my cross appointment to the Department of Chemical Engineering comes in.

And then there’s my applied research in microbial agriculture, where we’re looking for bio-inoculants for different types of crops. Some of that is rhizobia for legumes like beans, some involves other potential microbes that might benefit non-legume crops. That’s the focus of the “Bio-inoculants for the promotion of nutrient use efficiency and crop resiliency in Canadian agriculture” (BENEFIT) project, which I co-lead with Ivan Oresnik at the UM.

The BENEFIT project is funded through Genome Canada by the governments of Ontario and Manitoba, and various grower groups including Manitoba Crop Alliance. It brings together 16 professors across six universities. Broadly speaking, the goal is to try and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, or supplement their use, with microbial products, like bacteria and fungi. These microbes can help plants fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus, take up nutrients from the environment and some can even have effects on pests, diseases or stresses like cold temperatures.

Microbial inoculants already work well for legumes like soybeans, peas and lentils, where they form a specific interaction with the rhizobia to provide nitrogen to the plants. For crops like wheat and barley that can’t form this interaction with rhizobia, microbial products have historically been less effective. As part of this project, we’re tackling some of those challenges with hopes to develop new microbial products that are more reliable for growers.

To do this, we’ve generated a library of over 2,000 microbes isolated from Canadian soils. The idea is that microbes from Canadian soils are already adapted to our conditions and are more likely to succeed in Canadian fields. We’re now working on characterizing these microbes, looking at how well they’re able to promote plant growth, starting with lab trials and eventually moving to field trials.

We’re also looking at the economics and environmental impact, asking “what level of performance would make these bio-inoculants valuable for growers and for the industry to produce?” The main crops we’re focused on are wheat, barley, canola, beans and peas, with a smaller part on kale. The project is still in its early years. We only have preliminary results at this point; however, we are seeing some promising results for beans that I’m excited about.

What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your organization?

It’s essential. We don’t get core funding from the universities, so all of our research relies on funding from external sources. Support from farmers allows us to hire people and cover costs associated with doing the work.

Farmer funding is also critical because many government programs require matching dollars from industry. For example, with the Genome Canada grant every dollar from farmers helps us unlock another dollar from government. That leverage means their contributions go even further.

How does that farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?

Our goal is always to make results public, so farmers or companies can use them to create products that directly benefit farms. If we find a new microbial product, for example, the goal would be to make it commercially available so farmers can access it.

That said, research is never guaranteed. We’re doing everything we can to develop bio-inoculants that can potentially help farmers, but sometimes science doesn’t deliver the results we hope for. It’s important to not overpromise, but with continued support, we’re optimistic that in a few years we’ll have exciting updates to share.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I like going for hikes with my dog, and I also like watching the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to get eliminated from the playoffs. I still cheer for them every year, regardless.

What is the best part about your job?

There’s lots I like about my job, but if I must pick one, it’s the discovery aspect. With research, we’re always asking questions and trying to find answers to those questions with experiments. I find it a lot of fun when we get results from new experiments, and sometimes answers to those questions, and we’re the first people in the world to know what that is. It’s a lot of fun to be able to do that and spend the time thinking about these things.

What is your favourite food or meal to cook?

Homemade pizza. I have a pizza stone for my barbecue, and making a nice Italian-style pizza on it is the best.

Follow @George_diCenzo on X or connect with him on LinkedIn.  

Kelly Turkington, Plant Pathologist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Coles Ag on July 17, 2025

Follow Kelly on X (formerly Twitter) @FungusAmungus3.
Follow Kelly on X (formerly Twitter) @FungusAmungus3.

(Thomas) Kelly Turkington is a research scientist in plant pathology at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Lacombe Research and Development Centre. He holds a bachelor of science in agriculture (honours), a master’s degree and a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). He also spent about eight months taking classes at the University of Guelph as part of his U of S PhD program.

Turkington lives in Lacombe with his wife, Ana. Their children have grown up and moved out, and they are fortunate to have their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter living close by, while having a son and daughter-in-law in Edmonton.

Where did you work before AAFC?

I worked with Alberta Agriculture for two years in a similar position prior to joining AAFC in 1996. Prior to joining Alberta Agriculture, I had post-doctoral fellow positions from 1991 to 1994 with AAFC Ottawa and AAFC Beaverlodge working on Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and ear rot of corn, and brown girdling root rot of canola, respectively.

What got you interested in plant pathology?

I started my undergraduate program not knowing what I wanted to do. I didn’t fully comprehend the breadth of options for a career in agriculture, so I took a general introduction to crop science. In my third year, I took introductory plant pathology with professor Robin Morrall. His passion really helped shape my career and the direction I headed.

That Christmas I switched into agricultural biology so I could focus on plant pathology. After that, I worked as a pathology summer student at AAFC, which really got me into the field. Later, during my master’s and PhD, I was in close contact with farmers in northeastern and northwestern Saskatchewan. We were chasing moisture, doing petal testing for sclerotinia stem rot. That experience helped shape my interest and a practical approach to research focused on real issues farmers face. That’s been a theme throughout my career.

Tell us a bit about what you’re working on at AAFC.

I am the lead on the “Disease resistance to address environmental issues, economics, and sector resiliency” project funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) Barley Cluster. As plant pathologists, we see the impact of diseases on crop productivity, quality and even grain grade. James Tucker from AAFC Brandon is the co-lead on the project.

Disease resistance is one of the pillars of integrated disease management. For leaf diseases, high resistance levels can help mitigate the impact and, in some cases, eliminate the need for fungicide applications, especially prior to head emergence.

FHB has been a tough nut to crack. Through years of research, we’ve reduced susceptibility but still don’t have high levels of resistance. We work with Prairie breeding programs to identify resistant breeding lines, which breeders use to make selections and end up with varieties that combine agronomic performance, quality traits and a suite of disease resistance.

This project addresses a range of barley disease issues. We help identify sources of disease resistance and collaborate with breeders and molecular biologists to incorporate that resistance into new lines. We’re also involved in marker-assisted selection, where colleagues send populations from crosses between resistant and susceptible parents, and we help identify markers linked to resistance traits.

This is our third growing season under the SCAP cluster, but it’s a long-term effort. For diseases like rusts, our collaboration with breeders goes back more than 75 years. It’s an ongoing battle, because pathogens evolve and change in terms of their virulence.

Tell us about your involvement in the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network.

Along with colleagues from AAFC Saskatoon, AAFC Beaverlodge and AAFC Swift Current, we facilitated the establishment of the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN), funded under the Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster from 2018 to 2023. It’s modelled after the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network, a successful initiative related to insect monitoring that started in the mid-1990s.

Now into the second phase of the project, we’re working with a broader range of plant pathologists in Canada, universities and funders such as Western Grains Research Foundation, the Agriculture Development Fund in Saskatchewan and Results Driven Agriculture Research / the Agriculture Funding Consortium in Alberta, SCAP, and key producer groups and agencies in the Prairies, including Manitoba Crop Alliance.

From mid-May to early July, we issue weekly rust risk forecasts for winter wheat and spring cereals. These forecasts give farmers and consultants a heads-up, as we identify regions where rust may be emerging so they can scout in a timely fashion and decide whether a fungicide application is needed. In addition, we also develop information and guidance related to disease identification, risk assessment and key management strategies.

In 2023, we also started including soil moisture maps with a focus on sclerotinia stem rot in canola. These maps focus on soil conditions that could promote sclerotia germination and spore release. Again, it’s about giving farmers and consultants a timely warning. Learn more at prairiecropdisease.com or follow @PCDMN on X (formerly Twitter).

What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your organization?

It’s key. Without that support, it would be difficult to do the breadth of work we do. One of the most important things for our program is support for summer students working in our nurseries. Summer students play a key role, and that farmer support is what allows us to bring them on board and mentor the next generation of pathologists.

How does that farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?

The end goal of our work is to provide farmers with improved tools to manage disease on a consistent basis – tools that are sustainable and provide prolonged management.

We want to develop barley varieties that are resistant to multiple diseases. Disease resistance is a key foundational tool, especially as pathogens continue to adapt. Having a strong network of colleagues and staying connected to farmers is essential to understanding which issues are emerging. I encourage farmers to ask questions, visit research centres, attend field days and learn more about the work we’re doing and how it can benefit their farms.

For the PCDMN, specifically, the goal is to help farmers stay ahead of emerging risks, identify issues early and implement timely, appropriate management strategies. That leads to better crop production and quality, reduced input costs and improved returns.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I’m our family’s genealogist, so I’m really interested in family history. Grandparents, great-grandparents or great-great-uncles who served in the First and Second World Wars, I like learning about where our family came from and their stories.

I also have a motorcycle. I’m not sure I’d call it a hobby, my wife would say it’s an endless money pit. It’s an older bike, so I’m constantly fiddling with it, but I find it cathartic when things work out.

What is the best part about your job?

The people and the ability to interact with a broad range of individuals. Not only scientific colleagues, but technical and extension staff, producer groups, farmers and industry. That camaraderie and networking is what I enjoy most, especially interacting with farmers and consultants.

Follow Kelly on X (formerly Twitter) @FungusAmungus3

Manitoba Crop Alliance awards 2024-25 high school bursaries

Coles Ag on July 16, 2025

Meet Manitoba Crop Alliance’s 2024-25 high school bursary recipients

Coles Ag on July 16, 2025

MCA_2024-25 HS Bursary Recipients Graphic_X

Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) is proud to support agriculture’s next generation. MCA’s bursary program is designed to assist with the financial needs of students pursuing education in a field that will benefit the agriculture sector.

Six graduating high school students from Manitoba have been awarded with bursaries valued at $1,000 each. The six bursary recipients are Rylan Wubbe from La Riviere, Peyton Tolton from Kenton, Caroline Anne McConnell from Cromer, Taylor Unrau from Douglas, Dane Bergen from Carman, and Elizabeth Woodason from Erickson.

“I’d like to congratulate this year’s high school bursary recipients and wish them all the best as they continue their education,” says MCA chair Jonothan Hodson. “MCA is proud to support agriculture’s next generation, and I can’t wait to see these promising, young individuals make their mark on our industry.”

To qualify for these bursaries, applicants did not need to be continuing into an agriculture-specific program. However, they did need to clearly articulate how their continued studies would help them benefit the agriculture industry.

Learn more about this year’s recipients

 

Jitendra Paliwal, Vice President of Research and Innovation, University of Winnipeg

Coles Ag on June 17, 2025

Connect with Jitendra on LinkedIn.
Connect with Jitendra on LinkedIn.

Jitendra Paliwal is vice president of research and innovation at the University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg) and an adjunct professor at the University of Manitoba (U of M).

Paliwal earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering in India, followed by a master’s and PhD in biosystems engineering at the U of M. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife. Their two children are following a similar path to their father: one is studying engineering, while the other is studying geology at the U of M.

Where did you work before UWinnipeg?

I arrived at the U of M as a graduate student and never left (until last year). I was there for nearly 30 years, including my time as a student, then a professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and eventually associate dean (academic and graduate programs) in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. It has been a rewarding journey, and I’ve met many wonderful people along the way.

Tell us a bit about your research over the years.

My research focuses on the storage and quality monitoring of crops grown in Manitoba. I primarily employ optical techniques, using visible and non-visible light to monitor and enhance the quality of various agricultural commodities.

In one project, “Decontaminating stored flax,” which is funded in part by Manitoba Crop Alliance, we are using what is known as advanced oxidative processing. Through this process, we combine UV light, ozone and hydrogen peroxide to zap microbes, so the crop stays free of any kind of microbial growth.

Flax is a high-lipid crop that must remain dry during storage. The goal of our research is twofold: to maintain dryness and, if microbial growth does occur due to elevated moisture levels, to eliminate it effectively. We are exploring non-thermal methods that avoid heating the crop, using environmentally friendly approaches that involve no hazardous chemicals. Our focus is on solutions that are not only effective but also cost-efficient and commercially viable.

In the last year of this research, we are optimizing a combination of UV light, ozone and hydrogen peroxide without overexposing the crop to any of these three. We are looking for that sweet spot where we can decontaminate the crop while preserving its mechanical and functional properties, which are essential in end-product development.

What got you interested in this area of work?

I was always interested in agriculture. Sure, flax was not originally on my radar, but I was always interested in crops, people having healthy food to eat and farmers getting compensated the best they can.

As the population grows, so does the focus on increasing production, but there is less mention of post-harvest management of crops. Crops can spoil in storage, and if we were to stop some of that spoilage, we wouldn’t have to put as much pressure on the production side. This has been one of the main driving forces of my research program (i.e., to contain spoilage and preserve quality).

What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your organization?

Funding enables progress, but what’s especially humbling about support from farmers is the trust they place in our research to address the challenges they face. Every time they contribute a check-off dollar to a producer group, they invest in the hope that someone will turn that dollar into meaningful, long-term solutions. This kind of funding keeps us grounded; it reminds us to focus on delivering practical outcomes that ultimately support and benefit the farming community.

How does that farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?

Much of the work we do has a direct impact on farmers, beginning in the lab and ultimately reaching the field. The techniques and tools we develop are only possible because of the support we receive. Farmers have placed their trust in the system, which means a great deal. They keep asking the tough questions and challenge us to push the boundaries of science. That’s how we continue delivering solutions and innovations that tackle real-world challenges on the farm. Thank you for supporting our research.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I am a bit of a wellness freak, and I like staying active. Tennis keeps my aging body moving, yoga keeps my mind sane and nutritional supplements (like flax!) keep me hopeful, if not youthful. I also dabble a little in cooking, but my kids would argue that my food is more nutritional than tasty.

What gets you most excited about your work?

When you are working in the lab, the “aha” moment clicks when a student or a farmer says, “Well, this helped!” To me, that is a big win. Science is about discovery, but impact is about people. So, bridging the two really excites me.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

My father telling me to work hard but stay humble.

Humility is one of the most important qualities. You might achieve great success or accumulate wealth, but it’s essential to stay grounded and acknowledge the people who helped you along the way.

Connect with Jitendra on LinkedIn.

 

Fusarium Head Blight In-Season Article Roundup

Coles Ag on June 9, 2025

Fusarium head blight (FHB), a complex and potentially devastating disease, has been impacting Manitoba farmers’ wheat and barley fields for over 30 years. Although there is no practice to completely control FHB and its impact on grain yield and quality, there are practices that when used in concert can mitigate its severity. Practices should be implemented before, throughout and after the growing season. Practices include crop rotations with a 1–2 year break in between cereals, selecting resistant varieties, fungicide application, harvest management and more.

Manitoba Crop Alliance and the Manitoba Government have numerous articles covering all aspects of FHB management. Below are article links that cover topics specific to in-season risk and management considerations.

FHB Risk Maps

A new Prairie-wide FHB risk map was developed in 2024 for spring, durum and winter wheat, plus barley. The risk map models were developed in Western Canada and are important tools when assessing FHB risk.  The maps provide some insight into fungicide spray decisions, but in field scouting must occur to ensure all aspects of the disease triangle are addressed in the local area.

Fungicide Application and Timing

Fungicides are one prong of FHB management, but one of the few management practices that can be implemented in season. Currently, fungicides can only provide disease suppression. Once you’ve made the decisions to spray, there are a few considerations to think about, including fungicide choice, application timing and spray application technology.

Plant Growth Regulators and Fusarium Head Blight

Do you have questions about how the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) might impact FHB infection? Research out of the University of Manitoba sheds light on the impact of PGR application on flower retention and FHB infection.

Nandika Bandara, Associate Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Food Proteins and Bioproducts, University of Manitoba

Coles Ag on May 22, 2025

Connect with Nandika on LinkedIn.
Connect with Nandika on LinkedIn.

Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Nandika Bandara is an associate professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Food Proteins and Bioproducts in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba (UM).

He completed his undergraduate degree in agriculture specializing in food science and technology at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He then worked in the industry for four years before moving to Canada to do his master’s degree in food science and technology and his PhD at the University of Alberta.

Where did you work before UM?

After completing my PhD, I began a postdoctoral fellowship (PDF) position at the University of Guelph in the Department of Food Science, supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada PDF scholarship. I stayed there five months before I got an assistant professor role at Dalhousie University.

What got you interested in this area of work?

When I was in middle school, there was a 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya, the oldest university in my country. A family friend was staying in our home, going to university, and he took me to that celebration exhibition. After seeing all the animals, equipment and different farming systems, I knew agriculture was something I would really like. I selected agriculture as my high school major and went directly to that same university for the agriculture degree program.

Tell us a bit about what you are working on at UM.

My research program focuses on improving the protein and bioproduct industries using biopolymers generated in agriculture and food processing. I have three main research themes:

  1. Sustainable technologies for protein processing and functionality improvement: Developing nonthermal processing, fermentation, and dry and wet protein fractionation technologies to produce functional protein ingredients.
  2. Advancing fundamental knowledge related to protein utilization: Using advanced analytical and material characterization techniques to understand protein functionality.
  3. Advancing circular bioeconomy in the alternative protein industry: Use byproducts and waste material from agriculture (oilseed meal, for example) to produce new food ingredients and develop biopolymers for use in sustainable packaging, wood adhesive and other polymer applications.

In a project funded in part by Manitoba Crop Alliance, we are working with sunflower meal from the commercial oil extraction process. One of the biggest challenges with sunflower meal is that it contains chlorogenic acid, which makes the meal green. This chlorogenic acid will co-extract during traditional protein extraction methods. If you bake something with the sunflower protein, it turns green due to a reaction between chlorogenic acid and amino acid.

In this project we developed two new protein extraction methods where we can get rid of those colour compounds and produce an off-white colour sunflower protein. This work focuses on developing protein ingredients and using the remaining material (cellulose and lignin) for value-added applications.

Then we will look at how sunflower protein can compete with other proteins. Right now, the plant protein market is dominated by soy and pea protein to a certain extent. The oil is still the main component, but if we can get a food commodity from the sunflower meal it will increase the value of the crop for farmers.

What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your organization?

Farmer based funding is huge. This is the second time I have received farmer-based funding for value-added research. To see that farmers are interested in value-added opportunities is encouraging. You can increase primary production to a certain level, but eventually you will hit a ceiling, right? When you cannot go beyond that, you must generate more income from the existing resources you have. That is how you advance the industry, not just by trying to increase yields, but by generating value for the other components.

How does that farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?

If we can commercialize sunflower protein, farmers will get additional value for sunflowers, not just for the oil. If everything goes well for this project, we will get the sunflower protein as a protein ingredient. That is one revenue stream. If we can break down the lignin and cellulose and produce the other platform chemicals, that can be another revenue source. It is important to increase yields, and it is important to focus on agronomic practices, but at the same time, the future will be based on value-added opportunities.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I play cricket. We have both competitive and recreational playing opportunities here in Winnipeg.

What gets you most excited about your work?

Working with trainees and seeing them become successful. I have 23 trainees, and they are extremely successful. For example, they have received national and international awards. American Oil Chemists’ Society, which is involved with the sunflower industry, has two major awards for students: the Thomas Smouse Memorial Fellowship and the Honored Student Award. For two consecutive years, one of my trainees won the Thomas Smouse Memorial Fellowship, and in 2025, another student won the Honored Student Award.

The Institute of Food Technologists, an international society, offers the Feeding Tomorrow Fund, a graduate scholarship program, and presents approximately 90-100 scholarships each year globally. Last year, Canadian students received 10, and my trainees got seven of them. For three consecutive years, my trainees have secured the grand prize in the graduate student competition at the Manitoba Materials Conference. I have also had trainees advance to lead international student societies (American Oil Che), which brings me great satisfaction to see them succeed.

What is your favourite food or meal to cook?

Authentic Sri Lankan food! I really enjoy cooking. I invited my entire research group for dinner recently and they really loved the authentic Sri Lankan foods we have.

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