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.

Dr. Alireza Akhavan has served as the Provincial Plant Disease Specialist at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture since 2020. He holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in plant pathology and focuses on biosecurity and disease management to safeguard crop health and productivity across the province. His role includes developing guidelines to prevent the spread of crop diseases and leading major initiatives such as the Saskatchewan Clubroot and Verticillium Monitoring Programs. Before assuming his current position, Dr. Akhavan spent over a decade working and teaching at the University of Alberta and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, where he studied diseases affecting cereal and canola crops throughout the Canadian Prairies.

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.

Dr. Véronique J. Barthet is a Program Manager in Oilseeds at the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), where she has led research initiatives since joining the organization in 2000. She earned her PhD from McGill University in Montréal, Canada, and has since dedicated her career to advancing Canada’s oilseed quality assurance programs.

Her research focuses on evaluating the impact of seed quality on end-use products and its connection to grading factors. She has developed analytical methods to detect minor oilseed components, such as cyanogenic glycosides in flaxseed and n-7 fatty acids in Brassica.  She also explores rapid analysis techniques, including near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, using both bench-top and handheld instruments.

Dr. Barthet is an active contributor to national and international standards development. She has served as project leader for several ISO standards, is a member of the AOCS Uniform Methods Committee, and participates in the GCIRC Quality and Products Committee. She also plays a key role in the Oilseeds Advisory Committee of the Western Standards Committee, helping shape specifications that support the Canadian Grain Grading system to market Canadian oilseeds.

In Canada, she has chaired two ISO Sub-Committees under Technical Committee 34, focusing on oilseeds and oilseed meals (SC2) and oils and fats (SC11). She previously served as President of the Canadian Section of the American Oil Chemists’ Society and, as of January 2024, is the elected Chair of ISO/TC 34/SC 11, overseeing global standards for oils and fats analysis.

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.

Growing up on a mixed farm in SW Manitoba, Kim was raised on 4H and curling, cultivating a lifelong love of all things farming!  After high school she attended University of Manitoba first for an Agronomy Degree and then a Master’s Degree in Soil Science, jointly with Ag Canada in Brandon.  Over the last 30 years she has been fortunate to have been with Ag Canada as Research Associate, MB Ag as a Weeds Specialist and Ag Rep, MASC as both an adjustor and Insurance Agent, and in industry as a Regional Agronomist.  Kim returned to MB Ag in 2021 as the Provincial Weeds Specialist, where she is involved in training and extension of new and existing weed issues.  Kim has been a CCA since 1999, adding the 4R-NMS designation in 2019.

Dave was raised in rural western Ontario. He worked in forestry in BC and irrigated vegetable production in Africa before becoming a plant breeder. Dave has worked in canola research for nearly 40 years and is passionate about everything canola. 

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.

 Jed studied plant genetics at the University of Alberta where he received a Ph.D. In his early career Jed explored genetic and physiological responses to pathogens and drought stress in Canola, Cotton, Arabidopsis and Soybeans while working at public research organizations like the University of Alberta, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia. For the past 14 years Jed has worked with Bayer CropScience as part of the Plant Pathology, Native Trait Discovery and Canola Breeding teams. Currently Jed is the Canola Product Design Lead, responsible for deploying innovative breeding strategies and tools to deliver Canola hybrids that better meet farmer’s needs and increase productivity faster.

Dr. Lauren Comin is the Policy Director for Seeds Canada, the industry association for the Canadian seed sector. Since 2022, Lauren has worked with the seed sector on policy and advocacy files including phytosanitary and trade, regulatory affairs, intellectual property rights, plant breeding innovation and capacity, and sustainability. Prior to joining the seed sector, Lauren spent nine years working with producer associations, serving as the Director of Research for Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley, as well as the President of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Lauren has a PhD in Bioresource and Food Engineering from the University of Alberta.  

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.

Axel Diederichsen works for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as curator and research scientist at the Canadian national genebank for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He completed his undergraduate studies in agronomy and earned his Ph.D. degree in plant breeding from the Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany. He oversees the operation of Plant Gene Resources of Canada at Saskatoon, and has conducted studies using agro-botanical and taxonomical approaches in species of cultivated plants. He is engaged in several fora at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that deal with plant genetic resources and is Canada’s National Focal Point to the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

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!)

Richard Gray is a Professor of Agricultural Economics and the Canadian Grain Policy Chair at the University of Saskatchewan. Richard’s research has focused on the Economics of Crop Innovation for the past 20 years. From 2003 to 2014, he led the Canadian Agricultural Innovation Research Network. He has studied the organisation and funding of agricultural research in Australia, the UK, and France. Richard has also been involved in many studies examining the rate of the return to agricultural research in Western Canada. Professor Gray continues to be actively involved in the family farm at Indian Head Saskatchewan.

Jemanesh Haile is a skilled plant breeder and pathologist with over a decade of experience in the Western Canadian Agriculture System. Since June 2023, she has managed the Western Canadian Canola and Rapeseed Recommending Committee (WCCRCC) at the Canola Council of Canada, where she coordinates the verification testing system for recommending innovative canola and Brassica varieties.

Jemanesh also contributes to the Oilseeds Sub-Committee of the Western Standard Committee, helping to establish quality parameters for Canadian grains. Previously, as a research officer at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, she led pre-breeding activities for the Wheat Breeding and Genetics Program, resulting in the release of several wheat varieties and contributing to over 25 peer-reviewed publications.

Her achievements have been recognized through numerous awards, including the 3rd Africa-wide Young Professionals in Science Competition, the Jeanie Borlaug Women in Triticum Award and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship. Jemanesh earned her Ph.D. from the University of Kassel in Germany, specializing in gene and genome mapping, and holds an MSc in Applied Genetics and a BSc in Plant Sciences from esteemed Ethiopian universities. She is dedicated to advancing plant breeding and inspiring future agricultural scientists.

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.

Dr. John Husnik, PhD is the Founder, Chief Scientific Officer, and Co-CEO of Renaissance BioScience, a leading bioengineering firm based in Vancouver, BC. A pioneer in yeast strain development and RNA technology, Dr. Husnik has led the discovery, patenting, and commercialization of innovative yeast-based solutions for multiple industries. He also heads the development of a new biocontrol project designed to give canola farmers a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to chemical pesticides.

Founded in 2013, Renaissance BioScience is advancing a patented yeast-based RNAi delivery platform for agriculture and health. With a strong IP portfolio and a team of 30+, the company is addressing urgent global needs for environmentally friendly, rapid, and affordable biotech solutions.

My name is Saluja Karki, and I am pursuing a master’s degree in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science at the University of Saskatchewan under Dr. Rex Newkirk. My research focuses on the bioavailability of key micronutrients: choline and selenium in canola meal for poultry diets. The goal is to identify the missing piece in understanding canola meal and to optimize its use, thereby reducing dependence on synthetic supplements and opening new market opportunities for canola meal. Originally from Nepal, I completed my undergraduate studies in Food Technology and worked in Quality Assurance. I moved to Canada in 2022 to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Food and Bioproduct Sciences and am currently working as a Feed Formulator at Olymel. I am passionate about increasing the use of by-products in the livestock industry and aim to become a monogastric nutritionist to promote sustainable animal agriculture.

Kamal Khadka is an Assistant Professor of Plant Breeding and Canola Breeder at the University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. He received his Ph.D. in Plant Agriculture (Wheat Breeding and Genetics) from the University of Guelph, Canada, in 2020. He has almost a decade long experience in cereal crop research and breeding (rice, maize, and wheat) and has a strong background in participatory approaches to plant breeding. Currently, Dr. Khadka’s research investigates different breeding approaches to develop canola, rapeseed, and mustard cultivars adapted to the Pacific Northwest. His research focus is more on abiotic stress tolerance in canola, including improving cold tolerance in winter canola and drought tolerance in spring canola. 

Simon North serves as the Senior Agronomy Lead, primarily responsible for leading the Nutrient Stewardship programs, including the 4R Designation and Certification programs.

With a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Harper Adams University in the U.K.,  He has worked extensively in the agricultural industry across Europe and Canada, holding positions as an agronomist in both government and agricultural retail sectors.

Simon is a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag) and a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) in Alberta, with a passion for promoting sustainable fertilizer practices and optimizing crop production systems.

Mike is a member of MNP’s Agriculture Services team in Saskatoon. Mike brings a wealth of knowledge to his role, with more than a decade of agricultural industry experience in grain marketing, sales, and agronomy.

Mike grew up in south-central Saskatchewan on a mixed cattle and grain farm near Lafleche, and now lives on an acreage near Plenty. With a passion for agriculture, he takes a forward-thinking approach to serving his clients, focused on their well-being and profitability, now and into the future.

Prior to joining MNP, Mike established an agronomy consulting business serving clients throughout west central Saskatchewan.

Mike graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in AgBusiness (BSc Agbus) in 2009. He is a Professional Agrologist (PAg) and is 4R Nutrient Stewardship (Right Source at the Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place) Certified.

Dr. Peter W.B. Phillips is Distinguished Professor in the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and Founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Science and Innovation Policy (CSIP) at the University of Saskatchewan. He earned his M.Sc.Econ. in Economics and Ph.D. in International Political Economy at the London School of Economics (LSE) and practiced for 13 years as a professional economist and senior policy advisor in Canadian industry and government.

At the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Phillips has held the Van Vliet Research Chair, created and held an NSERC-SSHRC Chair in Managing Technological Change, was a founding member and director of the virtual College of Biotechnology and was founding director of the graduate school of public policy. He has had visiting appointments at the LSE, the University of Edinburgh, the OECD, the European University Institute and the University of Western Australia. In addition, Dr. Phillips was a founding member of the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee and member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute, Pharmalytics, and Ag West Bio Inc.

Dr. Phillips has held more than 15 peer-reviewed grants worth more than $250 million, been author or editor of 15 books and authored more than 55 book chapters as well as more than 100 journal articles.

Steve Robinson is a Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon. Prior to moving to Saskatoon, Steve studied genetics at the University of Birmingham before completing a PhD at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK. His research focuses on understanding and manipulating gene expression and the complications of gene regulation in polyploid crops. He is developing new tools to access variation found among crop wild relatives as a mechanism for introducing valuable alleles into crop gene pools.  More recently, he has established a program to make targeted interventions using RNAi-based strategies for pest control.

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.

Logan Skori is the CEO of AgGene. With a background in grain farming and a PhD in plant developmental biology from the University of Calgary, Logan merges practical experience with scientific expertise to drive trait development and value creation on the farm. He was awarded a 2023 Top CEO by Seed World.

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. 

Sheri has over 20 years of experience in research and the agricultural industry. She believes in research that aligns with grower needs, while upholding scientific rigor. 
Sheri completed her BSc, MSc, and PhD at the University of Alberta. After graduate school, Sheri worked as the Executive Director for the Alberta Pulse Growers and then returned to research in 2013 where she focused on cereal agronomy with Alberta Agriculture. After Alberta Ag, she worked for Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions now, Alberta Grains. 
In fall 2024, Sheri began leveraging her relationships across academic and industry in her new role as the Research Program Manager for Crops, at RDAR – Results Driven Agriculture Research.  

On a personal note, Sheri farms with her husband, Shane, in Neerlandia, Alberta where they are raising a daughter (Sarina) to appreciate the hard work and intricacies of food production.
 

Alison Sunstrum is a visionary Canadian entrepreneur and global leader at the intersection of agriculture, innovation, and investment. As Managing Partner of NYA Ventures and CEO CNSRV-X Inc., she backs diverse founders addressing agriculture’s most urgent challenges.  Alison was formerly the Co-Founder and CEO of GrowSafe Systems,  a Canadian garage-based startup that grew into a global AgTech leader recognized for its groundbreaking, science-based innovation to reduce livestock emissions, improve animal well-being and on-farm profitability. Alison holds patents and has spoken widely on sustainable agriculture and frontier technology. She is a Founding Partner and Fellow at CDL-Rockies, serves on Ivey’s Centre for Building Sustainable Value Advisory Council, and mentors the Weston Foundation’s Homegrown Innovation Challenge. An advocate for women in STEM, she is a  champion of inclusive progress in innovation.

Dr. Van To is a Research Scientist at Onda with a Ph.D. in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences from the University of Saskatchewan, and an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Aquaculture from Auburn University and Can Tho University, respectively. Since joining Onda in 2021, she has led more than 20 industry-focused research projects covering a wide range of feedstuffs, including functional ingredients, feed additives, and novel protein and oil sources, collaborating with global partners to deliver research solutions that promote sustainable aquafeeds and enhance the nutrition and health of fish and shrimp

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. 

Zoe Wallace is the Policy Manager at Gordley Associates, where she supports U.S. agricultural producers through work on issues including trade, food aid, and regulatory policy. She tracks trade developments, analyzes policy shifts, and coordinates advocacy with Congress and federal agencies.

Zoe holds degrees in Political Science and Agricultural Communication, with minors in Leadership Development and International Agriculture. She recently completed a master’s in Organic Agriculture and Food Systems at the University of Hohenheim in Germany, where her thesis examined the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on agriculture, informed by fieldwork in Kenya. With experience studying in China and working across diverse agricultural sectors—including barley, canola, pulses, and sunflowers—Zoe brings a global perspective to her policy work.