An assessment it conducted in 2024 estimated invasive species cost Alberta an enormous $2.1 billion annually. The tally was based on an economic assessment completed 20 years prior and adjusted for inflation along with the increased abundance and diversity of invasive species in Alberta.

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) is a subtle intruder, but given the right conditions, it can cause significant yield loss and affect future crops in wheat and barley. Most commonly transmitted through contaminated seed, the disease has the cereal industry pushing on all fronts to break the chain of transmission, starting with the development of an effective seed test to help farmers manage the risk and prevent it from spreading.