At this year’s Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC) recognition luncheon in Winnipeg, Manitoba-based plant pathologist Jim Menzies was celebrated for his decades of contributions to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the broader cereal research community. As he prepares to retire, Menzies doesn’t dwell on the accolades or the papers published. For him, the most rewarding part of his long career is simple: the people.
“Whether it’s colleagues in AAFC, people in government, industry, producer groups—just regular people trying to make a living and do good work. You learn so much from them, and you realize how generous and genuine they are,” he said.
Over the years, Menzies became a quiet giant in the field of cereal pathology. His work on smut, rust, and ergot diseases has shaped how Canadian farmers and breeders manage these persistent threats. But as he tells it, his focus areas weren’t part of a master plan—they were assignments.
“When you’re hired at AAFC, you’re usually given a portfolio. So I worked on smut and rust because that’s what I was tasked with. But there’s freedom too. Ergot of wheat caught my attention because it’s a floral infecting pathogen—kind of like loose smut. Our program already had some expertise, so it made sense to pursue it.”
For Menzies, it was never just about finding a cure. “It’s about understanding. You go down rabbit holes not necessarily because someone told you to, but because you’re curious. And you hope that in understanding the pathogen better, you can understand the disease better—and ultimately help farmers.”
That curiosity has served him well, especially in a field undergoing constant transformation. He’s watched plant pathology shift dramatically since he began, with molecular biology playing a leading role.
“Molecular tools have totally changed the game,” he said. “We now understand pathogens and their hosts at a level that just wasn’t possible when I started. That, and new tech in the field—better tools to see what’s really going on, how pathogens behave in real-world conditions.”
But he’s cautious about the allure of technology for technology’s sake. “You have to use it as a tool. Don’t become a slave to it. Use it to serve the work—not the other way around.”
As for the biggest challenge facing plant pathology today? Climate change.
“The environment’s shifting, and that’s going to impact plant pathogens in ways we can’t fully predict. Some diseases might disappear, others will emerge. And when a new one shows up that nobody’s studied before? You’re back to square one. That’s hard—but it’s also what makes the work meaningful.”
Funding is another reality that scientists must navigate. “Producer groups have been great, really stepped up their support. But funding goes up and down like anything else. When it’s good, you go for it. When it’s tight, you focus—figure out what’s most important, and put the rest on hold.”
Menzies’ advice for the next generation of researchers is refreshingly grounded: “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Focus on what matters. And enjoy it. We’re lucky in research—we get to chase our own questions, at least some of the time. That’s a gift. If the noise gets too loud, close your office door and get back to the science. That’s where the joy is.”
Looking ahead to retirement, Menzies laughs and says he’s looking forward to being “like a five-year-old again, before school starts—just doing whatever the day brings.” But chances are, he’ll stay curious.
After all, this is a scientist who never stopped learning—from pathogens, from colleagues, from farmers—and who found joy in every conversation along the way.
