Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Invests $2.3 Million in New Pulse Research, Leveraging $5.9 Million in Total Funding

Jan 15, 2025

Today, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) announced funding for 19 pulse-specific research projects, co-funded through Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). SPG’s total investment of over $2.3 million was leveraged through the ADF process for a total investment in pulse research and development of over $5.9 million. These research projects are two to four years in duration and study pulse crops, including pea, chickpea, and lentil. The research will evaluate new tools for integrated pest management of insects and diseases in pulses, mitigation strategies for root rot, and nutrient uptake in chickpeas, as well as address improving pulse flours, developing pea-based beverages, new uses for pulse starches, and optimizing on-farm research.

A complete list of projects, including researchers and SPG’s investment, can be seen below.

Rapid introgression of aphid resistance into pea elite cultivars, Dr. Tom Warkentin, University of Saskatchewan (USask) – $86,045
Integrating susceptibility genes to develop durable resistance against root rot pathogens in peas, Dr. Sateesh Kagale, National Research Council Canada – $68,170
Evaluating clean granular technology in Prairie cropping systems, Dr. Dave Greenshields, Insight Plant Health Corp. – $51,175
Digging deeper into chickpea root rot issues, Dr. Sabine Banniza, USask – $77,618
Fusarium avenaceum mycotoxins and virulence factors in cereal and pulse disease – towards improved mitigation strategies, Dr. Nora Foroud, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) – $226,050
Forecasting the impacts of pest insects on Canadian Prairie crops to generate integrated pest management support tools, Dr. Tyler Wist, AAFC – $53,367
Developing dsRNA-based fungicides to control Ascochyta Blight in pulses, Dr. Steve Robinson, AAFC – $247,500
Prairie invasive pigweed biovigilance, Dr. Shaun Sharpe, AAFC – $58,351
Exploring the role(s) of pin and spiral nematodes in the emerging chickpea disease in Saskatchewan, Dr. Michelle Hubbard, AAFC – $94,907
Revealing nutrient uptake and biomass development patterns in chickpea cultivars, Dr. Jeff Schoenau, USask – $37,116

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