A University of Saskatchewan pulse crop breeder has been awarded $3.8 million to improve Canada’s lentil production.
Over the next five years, Bert Vandenberg will investigate lentil genetics to increase disease resistance and add nutritional value to the crop.
“It took the Canadian industry 15 to 20 years to get into first place globally with lentils,” Vandenberg said.
“This funding and research program will help guarantee that Saskatchewan pulse producers will stay on top.”
Half of the money is from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council through its industrial research chair program and the other half from the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association.
“Pulses are truly a Canadian success story and have really contributed to the growth of the Saskatchewan economy with a record $1.6 billion in pulse exports in 2008,” said Garth Patterson, executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association.
Lentil varieties developed by Vandenberg account for more than 30 percent of the global supply of the crop.
