Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
July 18, 2014
Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada Wheat Breeder Dr. Ron DePauw is the recipient of the annual Canadian Plant Breeding and Genetics Award. The award is co‐sponsored by the Canadian Seed Trade Association and Germination Magazine. It is presented annually to a public or private sector researcher who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of Canadian plant agriculture through research in plant breeding and genetics.
According to his nominator, Jeff Reid of Secan, Dr. DePauw certainly fits the bill: “You could call him the billion dollar man. That’s the value of grain produced annually from wheat cultivars developed by Ron DePauw.”
Dr. DePauw is the co‐developer of AC Lillian – the first solid‐stem red spring wheat variety to become widely grown wheat across the Prairies. In fact for 4 years it was the most popular variety across all wheat classes. Dr. DePauw and his team discovered genetic resistance to the orange wheat blossom midge, reducing the devastating impact of this insect on commercial crops, and minimizing the need for
insecticide applications.
Dr. DePauw’s most notable contribution to Canadian agriculture was the development of AC Barrie – the variety that literally changed the face of wheat production in Canada. By 2000, AC Barrie was grown on nearly half of the red spring wheat acres in Canada. It was the most widely grown variety between 1998 and 2005. All new wheat cultivars that have come along since are measured against the new standard set by AC Barrie.
Dr. DePauw received his award in Banff, Alberta at the 91st Annual Meeting of the Canadian Seed Trade Association.
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