b'ISTVAN RAJCAN ACCEPTS PLANT BREEDING & GENETICS AWARDAttendees of the 2022 Seeds Canada Semi-Annual Meeting took time to celebrate legendary plant breeder Istvan Rajcan, who formally accepted the Plant Breeding & Genetics Award sponsored by Germination and Seeds Canada.The award is part of the Canadian Plant Breeding Innovation Awards program and 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.Rajcan joined the faculty at the University of Guelph in 1998. His germplasm is now present in a large percentage of commercially successful soybean varieties grown in Eastern Canada. His products have also been grown beyond Ontario in Quebec, Manitoba and Eastern Europe. TheyveBeing a good plant breeder means being engaged with also gained major recognition with soybean end userseveryone we interact with, and that includes students throughout Europe and Asia. themselves. I often tell them I learned from them as much Originally from Serbia, Rajcan sat down for a Germinationas they learn from me. They make me a better mentor and Giant Views interview and said his successes116better professor. A friend of mine many years ago said that publications and 85 varieties developed, and 48 grada grad student is like a rose. If theyre treated well, they will students trainedare due largely to the fabulous mentorsbloom and be beautiful.hes had over the years.JANUARY 2023GERMINATION.CA 17'