Canola Week 2025 speaker lineup

Be sure to continue to check back, as new speakers are being confirmed regularly. As each speaker is announced, their profile will be added so you can learn more about their expertise and session topics.

Dr. Dinesh Adhikary is a molecular biologist and research associate at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on host-microbe interactions in Brassica species. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia. Dinesh uses multi-omics, functional genetics, and advanced imaging to study the molecular basis of clubroot disease in Brassica napus. His expertise includes molecular plant biology, stress physiology, gene editing, and bioinformatics.

Autumn Barnes is an agriculture professional with extensive experience in crop production, innovation and engagement. She has worked on farms in Western Canada and New Zealand, and her professional career has included roles with the Canola Council of Canada’s Crop Production & Innovation Team, Ducks Unlimited Canada’s winter wheat team, and Lethbridge College’s Centre for Applied Research Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Most recently, Autumn has been working as an independent contractor, taking on projects related to agriculture research and engagement.

Jared Bento focuses on delivering farmer-focused research through initiatives such as the On-Farm Research (OFR) program and Canola Variety Evaluation Trials (CVET) at MCGA. His work centers on providing impactful, actionable, and unbiased information to help farmers optimize their operations, with these field research programs at the forefront of that mission.

Relatively early in his career, Jared values the opportunity to apply his training in meaningful ways and is grateful to the many farmers, agronomists, and industry professionals who have collaborated with him throughout this dynamic year for canola. Participating in MCGA’s Canola Research Tour allowed him to witness firsthand the diversity of farming operations and the challenges faced across Manitoba. Even experienced researchers are reminded that there is always more to learn—a perspective that continues to guide his work in agriculture.

Dr. Harmeet Singh Chawla is an Assistant Professor of Plant Genomics and Breeding in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba. His research focuses on developing disease-resistant and climate-resilient canola and wheat varieties using genomics, molecular breeding, and field-based screening. He works closely with producers and industry to translate research outcomes into practical breeding tools and on-farm solutions. Dr. Chawla leads several collaborative projects across Canada and internationally, with a strong focus on Verticillium stripe resistance and genomic selection to accelerate canola improvement.

Andrea is a farmer and agronomist in southeast Saskatchewan. She and her husband live near Indian Head and they welcomed their daughter, Sawyer, to the world this past year. Currently, she provides crop planning, data management, and field scale research services to farms and organizations in the province.

Dr. François Eudes is the Director Research, Development and Technology of the Science and Technology Branch (STB) at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) since December 2015, for sites located in Alberta. He leads science experts in two Research and Development Centres (Lethbridge and Lacombe) and two Research Farms (Beaverlodge and Vauxhall), and oversee the resources associated with their science programs. Since May 2023, Dr. François Eudes is AAFC’s lead for the national portfolio Breeding Innovation and Crop Germplasm Development, which includes focus on Gene Editing, Genomics and Phenomics, Breeding, Bioinformatics and Big Data and microbiome research. He provides authoritative leadership in managing scientific capacity and mobilizing it to achieve the desired outcomes of the 10 Years Strategic Plan for Science adopted in 2022 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Strategic Plan for Science - agriculture.canada.ca).

He has been instrumental in preparing STB moving forward with the Digital Transformation mission, through recommendations co-developed by a working group on data and digital needs for science: People, Infrastructure, Data, Cyber Security, Enterprise Excellence. He represents AAFC during engagement with academia and industry stakeholders across Canada.

Dr. François Eudes completed a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1992 at the ENSAIA, Nancy, France. He then moved to Canada and pursued a Doctoral degree in Plant Biology at Université Laval, Québec, Canada, and graduated in 1998. He completed a two year post-doctoral fellowship at AAFC-Lethbridge, before being recruited as a scientist in 2000. He led a science program for 15 years, during which he published more than 50 peer reviewed scientific publications and protected innovations through patent applications. His work focused on developing breeding tools for cereal crops, such as cell culture systems, DNA and protein delivery for engineering and editing plant genomes.

Dr. Charles Geddes is a Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based out of Lethbridge, Alberta. Charles grew up on a mixed farm near Pilot Mound, Manitoba. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Agroecology and a Ph.D. in Plant Science from the University of Manitoba. He leads the Weed Ecology and Cropping Systems research program, which focuses on discovery, monitoring, and management of herbicide-resistant weeds in western Canada. Charles has published over 60 peer-reviewed research articles on topics including herbicide resistance, weed ecology, integrated weed management, and agronomy. Charles lives with his family in small-town Nobleford, Alberta; home of the Noble Blade (an agricultural implement, not a mythological sword!)

David Halstead has been actively involved in biological research for the past 45 years. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Zoology in 1979, David worked as an aquatic biologist with various consulting companies and government agencies throughout Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He switched gears in the late 1980s to pursue a graduate degree in remote sensing and landscape ecology before taking on a teaching role at Saskatchewan Polytech in 1993.

David taught aquatic sciences and supervised student research projects for 20 years before assuming the role of Research Chair in the School of Natural Resources and Built Environment in 2014. This new role coincided with a successful bid to acquire drone technology, which provided the basis for a renewed emphasis on remote sensing. David and his team of researchers work with a variety of drone and remote sensing platforms including LiDAR, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal and RGB systems. His research currently revolves around forestry, agriculture, land reclamation, aquatic science and fish and wildlife interests.

Doug Heath is the Research Manager at the Saskatchewan Oilseeds Development Commission.  SaskOilseeds currently oversees over 80 active canola and flax projects per year for the benefit of Saskatchewan’s oilseeds growers.  He comes from a diverse research and development background including canola, wheat, Camelina, carinata, and pulse research from private industry, non-profit, academia, and public research organizations.  He has a BSc Biology and MSc Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan.

Jennifer Sabourin is the Research Manager and co-owner of Antara Agronomy Services Ltd., an independent agronomy firm based in St. Jean Baptiste, Manitoba. She plays a key role in leading Antara’s on-farm research program—designing and managing trials that give farmers the kind of practical, unbiased information they can actually use on their own operations. Under Jennifer’s leadership, the research program has grown into a trusted source of local agronomic insight, helping producers make confident decisions that improve both their bottom line and the long-term health of their land.

With a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s degree, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba, Jennifer brings both strong technical expertise and a teacher’s heart to her work. Her strong academic foundation fuels her passion for knowledge sharing, extension work, and advancing on-farm research. She’s passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world farming, making complex agronomy concepts clear, relatable, and actionable. Farmers know her for her approachable style, evidence-based recommendations, and deep respect for the practical realities of agriculture.

Jennifer and her husband Brunel, who co-own Antara, live in St. Jean Baptiste and have four daughters.  She’s proud to work so closely with the farming community she’s a part of, helping shape a stronger, more sustainable future for prairie agriculture.

Emma Stephens is a bio-economist working within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Science and Technology Branch, and is based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her current research involves collaboration with agricultural science colleagues on economic dimensions of agricultural science innovation, including: analyzing the economics of climate mitigation practices in Canadian agriculture; understanding farmer awareness of beneficial insects for insect pest management; analyzing farm decision making around beef cow feed testing; developing a data platform for improved circular economy opportunities in Canadian agri-food systems and; using machine learning methods to better analyze beef commodity market behaviour. She received a BSc. in Physics from McGill University in 1996 and PhD. in economics from Cornell University in 2007. She is has been the economics editor for the Elsevier Journal Agricultural Systems since 2014, and she has been with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada since 2019. 

Since 2015, Chris Vervaet has served as the Executive Director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA), representing its members on matters pertaining to the oilseed processing industry.  Chris is also a senior executive with the Canola Council of Canada (CCC), providing leadership on topics impacting all segments of the canola value chain.

His work in these roles has focused on the growing opportunities and challenges for the canola industry as the world transitions to a lower carbon future.   He leads the value chain’s efforts on renewable fuels, working closely with government and industry partners on key regulatory initiatives that are driving demand for canola, including Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulation and federal and state programs in the U.S.  

Chris grew-up on a grain farm in Manitoba, Canada and has 25 years of experience working in agriculture, primarily in areas related to policy development and advocacy.