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By Pattison Media

Canola research projects selected

Mar 10, 2026 | 2:47 PM

Genetic improvement and disease risks facing canola production need to be researched to find solutions for canola production. 

The three Prairie provincial canola grower associations have evaluated and selected 11 canola research projects to receive funding under the Canola Agronomic Research Program (CARP) in 2026.  

This includes roughly $2.4 million from Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, and Manitoba Canola Growers, as well as over $495,000 from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) and over $1 million from Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), bringing the total investment to $4 million.  

Funded projects provide new strategies for managing pests and diseases and addressing emerging threats such as weeds and viral infections.  

Alberta Canola Research Chair Cheryl Westman said capacity among public research institutions has decreased. 

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“Grower-led investment isn’t just an option anymore. It’s critical to the longevity of our industry,” Westman said. “Being a part of CARP allows Canadian canola growers to fund research that directly impacts their own farms, ensuring they have the tools to remain profitable and productive in a rapidly evolving environment.”  

“RDAR is proud to make key research investments with our funding partners, to address diseases, viruses and weed pressures that hinder producer productivity and profitability,” said Clinton Dobson, Vice President of RDAR Research. “The strategic approach in the CARP call will drive positive solutions for canola farmers.” 

Canola research projects funded in the CARP 2026 intake include:  

 • Connor Fitzpatrick, University of Calgary – Discovering the Verticillium longisporum genetic determinants of virulence  

• Fouad Daayf, University of Manitoba – Sustainable Management of Verticillium Stripe in Canola Through Biocontrol-Based Strategies  

• Gary Peng, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Exploiting susceptibility (S) genes in canola against clubroot and sclerotinia stem rot  

• Harmeet Chawla, University of Manitoba – Developing Verticillium Stripe Resistance in Canola through Genetic and Molecular Approaches  

• Isobel Parkin, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – A MAGIC resource to capture resistance to multiple environmental stressors in Canola  

• Jackie Lebenzon, University of Calgary – Overwintering physiology and population modelling of flea beetles in canola  

• Miles Buchwaldt, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Integrating Automated Imaging with Real-Time Lysimeter Data for Canola Drought Response Modeling  

• Sean Prager, University of Saskatchewan – Integrated Management of Viral Complexes and Co-Infection Risks in Canola  

• Stephen Strelkov, University of Alberta – Advancing Genomics-Based Diagnostics for Pathotype Identification in Clubroot  

• Yang Xu, University of Guelph – Enhancing Sclerotinia Resistance in Canola through a Novel Jasmonate Regulatory Complex  

• Yosra Menchari, Université Laval – Development of a Gene Drive System for the reproductive suppression of weeds  

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com