Grainswest - Tech 2026

Tech 2026 Grains West 18 PERSON PLACE & THING GW: Was Prairie agriculture everything you’d hoped it would be? BK: There is a huge difference in the agriculture system between Asian coun- tries and here. Here we have large farms, and in those countries, smallholder farmers have 10 or 15 acres of land. The transition was not easy for me. I started working at the University of Saskatche- wan as an associate researcher in the soil department. In July 2024, I got this position at Lakeland College as a research scientist. I do applied cereal crop research full time. This allows me to dedicate more time to designing experiments, working with industry partners and addressing real challenges faced by Prairie producers. GW: What areas of study do you focus on? BK: I focus on cereal and forage agrono- my. Specifically, nutrient management, variety evaluation, micronutrient biofor- tification and climate resilient cropping systems. These areas directly address key challenges in modern agriculture; for ex- ample, rising input costs, climate variabili- ty and the need for sustainable production systems. In Western Canada, a cereal such as barley is closely linked with livestock systems, so improving crop productivity and quality supports the livestock sector. In one project I handled that was com- pleted last year, we studied mitigation of lodging in feed barley here in Vermilion, in Lethbridge at Farming Smarter and in Falher up north. Lodging in barley causes yield reduc- tion, which is a significant problem. With a PGR and improved genetics, we were able to increase yield per acre and improve the quality of the grain. Such projects are essential because they add up to increased profitability for farmers. GW: What are you working on now? BK: I have submitted another project for funding to study the use of a new PGR and lodging mitigation in feed barley. Over the last decade, Canadian feed bar- ley production has gone down a little bit. There is demand to enhance productivity of all barley. New varieties with higher yield potential are being released every year and, under higher fertility regimes, are prone to lodging. And, funded by Saskatchewan’s Agri- culture Development Fund, we’re work- ing with the University of Saskatchewan on biofortification of feed barley with copper and zinc. Surveys indicate 70 to 80 per cent of pasture forage samples are deficient in copper and zinc. Why not agronomically biofortify feed or forage barley so animals get these minerals naturally? Apart from that, I’m handling regional variety trials with Alberta Grains for wheat, barley, oats and triticale. I am also collaborating with other scientists from Lakeland Applied Research Association on a relay cropping system with clovers and barley to improve forage quality dur- ing grazing. Funded by SaskBarley, we are also going to do a greenhouse study in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on mitigating pre-har- vest sprouting in malting barley. This year, collaborating with Agricul- ture Environmental Renewal Canada, we are going to try Canadian-bred millet and sorghum varieties to diversify the crop- ping system because they need very little water and perform well under drought conditions. Some varieties should work here because they are grown successfully in Ontario. GW: There is a lot of collaboration required in these initiatives and in your research projects. BK: I place strong emphasis on col- laboration with industry, universities and producers, because agricultural challenges are complex and require multidisciplinary approaches, but what the producer wants is foremost for me. Farmers are scientists in their own way. They closely observe their crops and often provide practical insights that are extremely valuable. My research is now multi-disciplinary, so to maximize success when I submit a research appli- cation, I work closely with producers, industry and other scientists to ensure projects align with the needs of farmers and industry. GW: What are the top three emerging technologies in agricultural research and development on the Prairies? BK: Number one is precision agricul- ture and remote sensing, including drones, which allow us to monitor crop variability in the field and the producer to make site-specific decisions for crop production. Second is enhanced efficiency fertiliz- ers. Fertilizers are becoming more expen- sive, so we need to do more research for the Prairie region on advanced nutrient management, which can help to improve input-use efficiency and reduce environ- mental impact. The third is data-driven decision-mak- ing. For example, predictive modelling helps farmers make timely decisions at the farm level. GW: What advice would you give to young people who may be considering a career in agricultural science? BK: Agriculture is a very exciting and dynamic field. It’s not just about farming; it’s about science, technology and innova- tion. I would encourage young people to stay curious and develop strong scientific and analytical skills and stay connected with real world agriculture. There are tremendous opportunities to contribute to food security, environmen- tal sustainability and rural development. If they want to be a world leader, agricul- ture is the profession for them. Whatever you do as an agricultural researcher, the solutions you produce for farmers are ap- plicable to global situations. For example, drought is the biggest problem where I grew up, and it continues to be a major challenge in Canada. The goal is to have sufficient food for the world’s burgeoning population. Col- lege and university students today will be real heroes in the future.