Potato research is poised to get a boost in Alberta with the appointment of a research chair in potato science at the University of Lethbridge.
Dmytro Yevtushenko, a plant biologist, has been studying potatoes for more than 25 years. He started his new role at the U of L Jan. 4.
According to a university news release, Yevtushenko’s main research interests involve plant biotechnology and breeding.
“He has a broad range of research expertise, including development of potato genotypes with wide-spectrum disease resistance and large-scale production of virus-free seed potatoes in vitro,” said the release.
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“Among other projects, his research plans include improvement of tuber yields through epigenetic enhancement of current potato cultivars and speeding up the potato breeding process using innovative methods.”
Yevtushenko was born in Ukraine and completed a doctorate at the Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering in Kiev.
He held a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Guelph and has worked at the University of Victoria and in private industry research positions.
Potato Growers of Alberta, McCain Foods, Lamb Weston and Cavendish Farms collectively contributed $1 million over five years to establish the potato science chair.
“Local growers and processors welcome Dr. Yevtushenko, and we are eager to start working with him,” PGA executive director Terence Hochstein said in the news release.
“Our membership identified a need for university-level research and education in the potato industry, and we are excited to have Dr. Yevtushenko and his expertise available to us.”
The Alberta potato industry is estimated to generate $1 billion a year.
