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Canola Research

Representing Alberta’s canola producers, the Agronomic Research Committee allocates producer dollars to various agronomic research projects that meet ACPC’s mission of increasing the long term profitability of Alberta's canola growers.

In 2008-09, after 10 years experience partnering with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)  in canola agronomic research, the ACPC entered into another five year agreement with AAFC.  SaskCanola, the Manitoba Canola Growers and the Canola Council of Canada have now joined in the partnership.  The agreement includes all of the AAFC research stations in western Canada and all canola agronomic research underway by AAFC. 

The research will be directed by research committees of the three grower organizations, and coordinated by the Canola Council.  Currently there are more than 10 trials underway.  This work will go a long way to achieving the Commission’s agronomic research goals of finding better ways to grow canola, and finding solutions to control pests.

The Commission is able to leverage their research funds by partnering with the organizations listed above and the Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund.

Every $1 ACPC invests generates as much as $12 of research.

Canola growers in Alberta that do not request a refund of their check off from the Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) qualify for the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit.

Current Research Projects

(from the 2008-09 Annual Report):

Clubroot Research

  • Evaluating physical & chemical methods for cleaning & disinfesting tools, machinery, equipment & other hard surfaces contaminated with clubroot spores (Dr. Ron Howard - AARD)
  • Development of laboratory methods For rapid screening of clubroot resistant canola line (Dr. Stephen Stelkov, U of A)
  • Effect of non-host crops and host management on clubroot of canola (AARD)
  • Integrated management of clubroot of crucifers (Dr. Stephen Stelkov, U of A)
  • An integrated approach to clubroot in canola development of resistant germplasm and breeding strategy (Dr. Habibur Rahman, U of A)

Disease Research

  • Reducing seedling blight to improve stand establishment in hybrid canola (Dr. Sheau-Fang Hwang, AARD)
  • Antifungal peptide from pine for multiple disease resistance in canola (Dr. Nat Kav, U of A)
  • Investigation on the individual genes of Brassica Carinata in canola or their resistance to different blackleg pathotypes (Dr. Habibur Rahman, U of A)
  • A large-scale survey of races of Leptosphaeria maculans occurring on canola in western Canada (Dr. Habibur Rahman, U of A)

Insect Research

  • Evaluation of potential flea beetle species composition shift in prairie canola (Dr. Juliana Soroka, AAFC)
  • Advancing the “hairy canola” Trait in Brassica Napus and Brassica Carinata (Dr. Margaret Gruber, AAFC)
  • Developing root maggot resistant canola (Dr. Lloyd Dosdall, U of A)
  • Evaluation of resistance to flea beetles in PR10 transgenic canola (Dr. Nat Kav, U of A)
  • Developing cabbage seedpod weevil resistant canola (Dr. Lloyd Dosdall, U of A)
  • Identifying agronomic practices that conserve and enhance natural enemies of insect pests of canola (Dr. Lloyd Dosdall, U of A)
  • Development of reduced-risk strategies through coordinated monitoring, forecasting and risk warning systems for insect pests (Dr. Owen Olfert, AAFC)

Agronomy Research

  • Alberta weed survey (Dr. Christopher Neesor, AARD)
  • Field scale multiple site spatial variability of crop yield (Dr. Ty Faechner, ARECA)
  • Developing canola lines with reduced pod shattering (Dr. Sirish Shah, U of A)
  • Prairie Canola Agronomic Research Program  - a suite of reserch projects (AAFC)
  • Managing canola for a sustainable biodiesel platform (Dr. Neil Harker, AAFC)
  • Evaluation of winter Brassica rapa for cultivation in Alberta (Dr. Habibur Rahman, U of A)
  • Rapa varietal development program (Dr. Kevin Falk, AAFC)

Online Research Database of completed projects  - under development