Investment in pulse research, development, and breeding has directly impacted Saskatchewan growers’ productivity and profitability.  

Research Strategy

SPG’s newly launched research and variety development strategy is focused on solutions to growers’ most significant production barriers.  

SPG’s next decade of investment targets four focus areas: increasing the profitability of established pulse crops and expanding options, increasing demand and market opportunities, maintaining and expanding market access, and listening to growers to ensure SPG understands their priorities. This collaborative approach aims to build a strong community of industry partners and researchers working together for shared success.  

SPG targets the strategies outlined below to guide these investments and is also guided by the National Pulse Research Strategy, led by Pulse Canada.

Increasing Profitability & Expanding Pulse Crop Options

Research investments aim to boost the yield potential of pulse crops like peas and lentils, directly benefiting Saskatchewan growers’ productivity and profitability by:  

• Expanding pulse breeding and variety development for Saskatchewan growers and environments. 
• Investing in genetic improvement tool development to support the advancement of varieties and breeding programs. 
• Expanding research capacity through infrastructure and people development. 
• Adoption of new varieties through developing tools to allow growers to identify which varieties perform best in selected regions of Saskatchewan.  
• Enhancing management strategies and developing prediction tools for pulse crop weed, disease, and insect issues.  
• Protecting and supporting crop health through optimizing nutrient uptake and use.  
• Enhancing establishment, competitiveness, production potential, and harvestability for each pulse crop by advancing agronomic practices.  

SPG will also target expanding the acres of minor pulse crops, such as faba beans, chickpeas, soybeans, dry beans, and fenugreek, to support long-term rotation sustainability by ensuring at least one viable pulse crop for every acre in Saskatchewan. This focus on sustainability aims to reassure stakeholders that their efforts contribute to a resilient agricultural future.   

Mitigation of Root Rots

SPG takes a multifaceted approach to the most challenging diseases, such as root rot. SPG is investing in:  

• Breeding genetic resistance to Aphanomyces and other root pathogens.  
• Understanding the pathogens present and their effects on various pulse crops.  
• Investigating the impact of agronomic practices on managing root rot pathogens and plant health.  
• Identification and evaluation of chemical and biological products for their influence on the management of root rot pathogens.  
• Developing and enhancing tools to predict and quantify the risk of disease. 
• Seeking out global collaborations to identify novel and innovative technologies to find solutions to root rot challenges.  

Learn more about our collaborative efforts to address Western Canada’s root rot challenges through RootRot.ca.  

Herbicide Tolerance

Growers need help managing herbicide-resistant weeds. To further our commitment to the sustainable production of one of Saskatchewan’s most important pulse crops, SPG is investing in developing new herbicide tolerance options in lentils.  

Processing & Feed Research

Build diversified demand for pulses by expanding the use of pulses and increasing market opportunities through investments in processing and feed research that target priority projects aligned with the National Pulse Research Strategy.

Pulse Quality Program

Benchmark pulse quality by variety and location in Saskatchewan. Over time, it will also benchmark best management practices that influence quality, allowing end users (processors and food ingredient manufacturers) to target varieties that meet their functional quality parameters.  

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