Warkentin Named 2013 Pulse Promoter

SASKATOON - Jan 15/14 - SNS -- BASF Canada and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) have named Tom Warkentin, a Plant Breeder at the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, the 2013 Pulse Promoter of the Year.

The award is given annually to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the development of Canada's pulse industry. Bill Greuel, Market Manager of Functional Crop Care and Seed Enhancements, BASF Canada presented the award to Warkentin at CropSphere 2014, City, Saskatchewan.

"Warkentin's current research projects are attempting to address both agronomic and market traits that will help our country's pulse growers maintain their competitiveness around the world," said Greuel. "It's industry-leading work that has the potential to be a real game changer."

Warkentin is currently breeding field peas with an emphasis on agronomic traits, such as high yield and lodging and disease resistance, as well as market traits, such as visual, nutritional and end-use quality. He is also collaborating on a soybean breeding program for the short season areas of the prairies.

Since 1997, approximately 30 pea varieties have been released from the CDC program, with Canadian pea production reaching a record of nearly four million MTin 2013. This work has helped to position Canada as the largest exporter of peas in the world.

"Warkentin is a world leader in pulse research and is leading the Canadian contributions on international genome sequencing efforts for pea," said Carl Potts, SPG's Executive Director. "He also helps to develop the future of pulse research through his mentorship of the next generation of scientists and researchers. Warkentin is a tireless ambassador for the pulse industry and SPG would like to congratulate him on this award."