Alberta declared free of potato cyst nematode

Apr 13, 2021

The CFIA placed two fields under a Notice of Prohibition in 2007

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Alberta’s potato industry has received an important designation.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) declared the province free of potato cyst nematode (PCN) after more than 10 years of testing and surveillance.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Deb Hart, special projects coordinator with Potato Growers of Alberta, told Farms.com.

The CFIA tested fields in 2020 and all the tests came back negative.

The nematodes do not pose a risk to human health but are difficult to eradicate because they can lay dormant in the soil for decades.

Alberta’s situation with PCN began in 2007.

In October of that year, two soil samples tested positive for PCN. These results led to the CFIA placing the farms under a “Notice of Prohibition or Restriction of An Activity.”

Under this ruling, the CFIA required the two affected farms, Northbank Potato Farms Ltd. and Haarsma Farms Ltd., both near Edmonton, to destroy their seed potato crops. Production and sales were prohibited, and restrictions were placed on their farm equipment.

These positive tests also resulted in the U.S. and Mexico closing their respective borders to all Alberta seed potato exports.

The trade issues cost potato farmers around $35 million that year. And in some cases, it cost farmers their livelihoods.

“We lost a lot of sales and we actually lost a lot of growers,” Hart said. “It was a very stressful time for the industry overall.”

The U.S. and Mexico did reopen borders to Alberta seed potato exports in 2009.

A bilateral agreement between Canada and the U.S. meant all shipments of seed potatoes from either side of the border had to be tested for PCN. But shipments from the affected Alberta farms had to undergo stricter testing, Hart said.

This PCN-free designation will help Alberta do more business with countries looking for seed potatoes.

The industry has already been receiving communication from potential partners, Hart said.

“Countries are interested and CFIA has done a lot of work to ensure them that there’s no threat of PCN being exported in a shipment,” Hart said. “We’re hoping this will open up more opportunities, especially from Asian countries.”

Alberta’s ag minister is also pleased with the PCN development and its potential for trade.

“Potatoes are a billion-dollar industry in Alberta,” Devin Dreeshen said in an April 7 statement. “This announcement will help us reclaim market access and will lead to fewer restrictions as we pursue new markets.”

The PCN situation did have some controversy along the way.

Representatives from the two affected farms alleged the 2007 test results were false positives because the CFIA couldn’t replicate test findings.

“Once you’ve got (the nematodes), they’re there,” Ernie Van Boom, co-owner of Northbank Potato Farm, told CBC in March 2020. “You don’t have them and then they’re gone. There were never nematodes in there.”

Van Boom and others wanted to bring a case to the Supreme Court but the court refused to hear the case.

The federal and provincial governments created a $16 million compensation program to help farmers recover losses.

In total, 39 farmers including those affected, received compensation.

Video: How a Desire to Lead Brought This Wheat Breeder to Canada

Gurcharn Singh Brar is a wheat breeder whose path meandered from the breadbaskets of Punjab, India, to the sprawling fields of the Prairies. In a candid conversation, Brar shared insights into his journey, the challenges faced, and the undying passion that fuels his quest for better crops.

It all began with a childhood rooted in the wheat fields of Punjab, where agriculture isn’t just a livelihood but a way of life. His fascination with wheat and its potential led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences at Punjab Agricultural University. It was during this time that he encountered the spectre of rust diseases, particularly stripe rust, which plagued the region’s wheat crops. Determined to combat this menace, he set his sights on a journey that would take him across continents.

Venturing abroad for his graduate studies, he found himself in Saskatchewan at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), working under the mentorship of renowned researchers like Randy Kutcher and Pierre Hucl. Here, he delved deep into the world of wheat genetics, focusing on stripe rust resistance — a quest that would shape his academic pursuits for years to come.

After completing his master’s and Ph.D. in six and a half years, he embarked on a professional journey that would see him traverse academia and research. From brief stints as a research officer to landing his dream faculty position at the University of British Columbia’s Plant Science program, his career trajectory was marked by a strong drive to make a difference in the world of wheat.

Despite the allure of British Columbia’s unique agricultural landscape, he found himself wanting to return to the vast expanses of the Prairies, where wheat reigns supreme. He recently returned to the Prairies and is the new wheat breeder at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“The opportunity to lead an established wheat breeding program at the University of Alberta was a dream come true. With the necessary resources and infrastructure in place, I’m excited to drive innovation and develop high-yielding wheat varieties tailored to the unique conditions of northern Canada,” he says.

Brar, one of Seed World Canada‘s 2024 Next-Gen Leaders, has become known for identifying novel sources of resistance to priority diseases and his efforts in developing wheat germplasm with multiple disease-resistant traits.

In addition to his groundbreaking research, Brar is committed to mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists.

“I believe in nurturing talent and empowering students to pursue their passions,” he says. “Watching my students grow and thrive in their research endeavours is hugely rewarding.”

As he looks ahead, Brar’s vision for the future of wheat breeding is clear: “My number one target is to develop high-yielding wheat varieties adapted to the northern climates of Canada. By focusing on early maturity and strong straw traits, we can maximize yield potential while ensuring resilience to environmental challenges.”

His decision to also join the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye, and Triticale (PGDC) executive as member-at-large came from a desire to play an even more important role in the world of Canadian cereals.