The words “white bread” don’t tend to stir excitement in the hearts of Canadian consumers. The term itself is used as shorthand for “boring,” and typical grocery store white bread is often considered a junk food, inferior to whole wheat counterparts. But despite white bread’s second-rate reputation, squishy snow white bread has long been a staple of diets around the globe. While trends may ebb and flow, refined grain breads continue to have a place in our ever-changing culinary world.

As a microbiology student at the University of British Columbia, Rickey Yada struggled with his chosen path, until he received a recruitment letter from the school’s Food Science department and sat down with its chair. The young student had taken classes in chemistry, biochemistry and physics, and the administrator suggested Food Science addresses these disciplines as applied to food. Yada loved the idea, and the offer of a scholarship sealed the deal.

For nearly a decade, Sexsmith area farmer and Alberta Grains region 6 director Greg Sears has opened his fields to researchers for pest studies. These researchers set traps, use sweep nets and record findings. During a routine sweep in 2022, the net captured a donkey click beetle (Dalopius asellus), an uncommon type.

In July, the Alberta government announced the intended launch of a permanent farm plastics recycling program but has instead renewed the province’s existing pilot project. The “Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!” pilot program will start its next two-year stretch in 2026 with an impressive record.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada crop breeder Harpinder Randhawa has made impressive gains in soft white spring wheat breeding in recent years, and AAC Raymond is his latest success. “Soft whites are unique in their end-use potential,” said Randhawa, who works at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre. “Historically, soft white wheats have been grown in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan for milling cookies, cakes and biscuits. Owing to their low protein and high starch content, however, they are also ideal for ethanol and brewing malt.”

Canadian agriculture faces one of the biggest farm transitions in history. Nearly 40 per cent of farmers are expected to retire over the next decade. In Alberta, it’s closer to 62 per cent. The province’s farms are predominantly family owned and operated. Unfortunately, the number of young people taking up the family business is declining. Beyond succession planning, there is a need to identify and evaluate barriers to the family farm transition process.

On Oct. 16, 2025, the Premier of Alberta mandated Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally to work with Alberta’s distilling industry to define standards for “Alberta whisky.” These standards would then be codified in an Alberta Whisky Act and legally protect the designation.

Scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre have successfully edited multiple genes in two spring wheat lines in efforts to create greater environmental adaptability.

The board of governors of Westlock Terminals recognized that to thrive as a relatively small player in the grain handling business requires diversification. The independent elevator was established in 2002 when its mostly local shareholders purchased the former Agricore United elevator. This was done with the intent to maintain community control, provide local jobs and strengthen the regional economy. Westlock Terminals has since carefully expanded its product and service offering.