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New-Old Soybean Ripe for New Market Opportunities

By Lilian Schaer

A soybean variety first identified at the University of Guelph 20 years ago might finally find use in industry.

Currently known as OAC 13-55C-HL, the soybean contains lots of linoleic fatty acids, useful in industrial material applications such as paints, coatings, polyols and epoxies.

Late U of G plant agriculture professor Gary Ablett, a renowned soybean breeder, discovered the variety two decades ago while he was working to develop soybeans yielding oil suited to the food industry. Market demand wasn’t strong enough then to warrant further investigation.

Ablett developed more than 50 soybean varieties before his death in 2012. He shared his discovery with U of G soybean researcher Prof. Istvan Rajcan, Plant Agriculture.

Working with the BioCar Initiative — a partnership between the automotive industry and researchers using plant-based ingredients to make car parts — Rajcan found that OAC 13-55C-HL might suit industrial uses.

“Nobody was interested in high linoleic at the time when Gary developed this variety, but he allowed me to study it further with my grad students,” says Rajcan. “We made crosses between Gary’s original variety and some high-yielding soy varieties so we could improve the yield as well as have the high linoleic oil profile.”

Oil from this soybean contains almost one-third more linoleic acid than commodity soybean oil. It’s also more reactive, which might improve production efficiency and material synthesis.

The new soybean variety presents a unique opportunity for the University of Guelph, according to Steve De Brabandere, interim director of the Catalyst Centre.

“Traditionally the bean breeding program at Guelph has been focused on soybean growing in Ontario, and there hasn’t been a lot of specific trait breeding for anything other than what farmers would need, like disease resistance, yield improvement or cold tolerance,” says De Brabandere.

With a small amount of oil now available for new product development, the team hopes to interest companies in testing applications. The researchers are working with Soy 20/20, a Guelph-based partnership of government, academia and industry developing markets in industry and food for Canadian soybeans.

“We’re seeing growth in the use of soybeans in paints and coatings, and the potential of this new high-linoleic oil for industrial applications is promising,” says Soy 20/20 CEO Jeff Schmalz. “It has the potential to be a better feedstock for existing bio-based products, as well as new product development, which bodes well for the future of Canada’s soybean industry.”

If early trials with the oil succeed, De Brabandere says, the team will consider partnering with a seed company for commercial production with farmers willing to grow the soybeans – maybe for the 2018 growing season.

Rajcan says the variety is still undergoing field trials to test its agronomic characteristics. Although its yield is lower than that of top soybeans, it could be an attractive option for farmers looking to grow a specialty soybean, he says.

“The real interest is in the industrial application and not for commodity production,” he says, adding the bean’s future will depend on results from early industrial product development trials.

The soybean breeding program at U of G receives funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the University. Soy 20/20 is supported by Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, and by Grain Farmers of Ontario.
 

Source: Univercity of Guelph


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Why Rob Saik is Trying to Build the World’s Most Connected Agriculture Network

Video: Why Rob Saik is Trying to Build the World’s Most Connected Agriculture Network

In a recent interview at the SeedLink Conference in Brandon, Man., Rob Saik, author, speaker, and CEO of AGvisorPRO, took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the beginnings of his career and what the future holds.

Graduating from the University of Alberta in 1983, Saik embarked on a journey that started in Brandon, Man. “I got a job with Elanko, got a U-Haul truck, threw everything I had into it, drove to the Victoria Inn, and lived there for three months while they tried to find an apartment for me to move into. So I started my career in Brandon,” Saik shared.

Fast forward to the present, Saik has evolved into an accomplished author and speaker, traversing the globe to engage in high-level discussions about the future of agriculture and the critical role it plays in feeding the world. Yet, despite his global presence, he finds himself back in Brandon, addressing a group of seed growers. But why? Saik emphasizes the fundamental importance of seeds, stating, “It all begins with a seed, doesn’t it?”

Reflecting on his own experiences as a farmer, Saik expresses his excitement when a planted seed germinates and evolves into a thriving crop. He underscores the significance of technology and breeding in seed development, recognizing the crucial role they play in ensuring farmers can propagate seeds, grow profitable crops, and contribute to global food security.

Saik delves into the challenges faced by the agricultural community, particularly the rapid pace of technological advancements. He believes that the key lies in connecting farmers to experts swiftly, boosting farmers’ confidence in adopting new technologies, and ensuring the timely implementation of these advancements. According to Saik, this approach is crucial for steering agriculture towards sustainability and profitability.

As Saik works on his upcoming book, tentatively titled prAGmatic, he sheds light on its central theme. “The thesis would be that I want to write a book that takes what the consumer wants, challenges what the consumer believes, and positions that against what the farmers can actually do pragmatically,” he explains. The book aims to bridge the gap between consumer expectations and the realistic capabilities of farmers, promoting sustainable intensification as the necessary path to feed the planet.

Looking ahead to 2024, Saik emphasizes the need for enhanced connectivity within the seed industry. He discusses his platform, AgvisorPro, which is designed to facilitate connections between farmers, experts, and companies in a way that transcends conventional social media platforms. Saik envisions a credible, connected agricultural network that goes beyond the noise of platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter.

In a passionate vision for the future, Saik imagines a tool for teachers that allows them to pose questions from students, answered by verified farmers and ranchers. This, he believes, would provide an authentic and valuable educational resource, connecting classrooms with individuals who truly understand the intricacies of agriculture.