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Why Maizex is Bringing Canola to Alberta

Alberta trials are underway as Maizex prepares to offer booking for 2026.

If you told me a few years ago that Maizex would be moving into canola, I might’ve called you optimistic. But here we are. After nearly four decades in Canadian agriculture and a strong national footprint in corn and soybean genetics, Maizex Seeds is officially entering the canola market — and yes, Alberta farmers, that means you.

This move didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a multi-year process of strategy, scouting, and listening. Listening to farmers. Listening to dealers. And listening to what the canola market still needs — especially in the West.

We’re launching our first two Maizex-branded canola hybrids for planting in 2026, and we’re excited to finally talk about it. This isn’t just about entering a new crop category. It’s about bringing a Canadian-owned alternative to the table — one focused on farmer-first service and choice in a market that, frankly, could use more of both.

As I’m writing this, I’m literally on the road in Alberta with Jeremy Visser, our oilseed product manager. We started the day in Airdrie and are heading toward Lloydminster, stopping at strip trials and research plots along the way. We’re not just observing — we’re engaging, asking questions, and learning from farmers in real time. That’s the Maizex way. Whether it was corn back in the early days or now with canola, we don’t just show up — we embed ourselves.

We know Alberta farmers are particular — in the best way possible. You know what works for your farms and your growing conditions. We’ve done our homework. We’ve consulted with producers and dealers across the Prairies — including right here in Alberta — to understand the specific gaps in the market. Whether it’s herbicide tolerance packages, agronomic support, or just wanting to work with someone who genuinely cares about your success, we’ve taken that feedback and built our offering around it.

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Since blackberries must be harvested by hand, the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To support a growing blackberry industry in Arkansas, food science associate professor Renee Threlfall is collaborating with mechanical engineering assistant professor Anthony Gunderman to develop a mechanical harvesting system. Most recently, the team designed a device to measure the force needed to pick a blackberry without damaging it. The data from this device will help inform the next stage of development and move the team closer to the goal of a fully autonomous robotic berry picker. The device was developed by Gunderman, with Yue Chen, a former U of A professor now at Georgia Tech, and Jeremy Collins, then a U of A undergraduate engineering student. To determine the force needed to pick blackberries without damage, the engineers worked with Threlfall and Andrea Myers, then a graduate student.