Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) has announced a $833,000 investment into clubroot research.
Together, RDAR, the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, and the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission awarded $1.25 million to Dr. Stephen Strelkov, professor of plant pathology at the University of Alberta, to lead an expert team in:
- breeding resistance into new crop varieties
- developing new ways to control the pathogen
- identify clubroot resistant genes
As part of this comprehensive five-year project (2023-2028), Strelkov’s team will contribute to the sustainable long-term control and improved resistance stewardship, helping producers manage and reduce clubroot spores contaminating their fields.
RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation says clubroot remains a significant risk to canola production in the prairies — not only impacting the crop, but land values as well.
“We are glad to see so many organizations come together to fund this project. It will look at multiple ways to reduce its impact and stem its spread across the prairies, and I look forward to the wide ranging benefits for the sector,” he says.