b'FIELDS FUTUREOF THEThe future always rests in the hands of innovative people doing cutting-edge work.This batch of researchers and visionaries are discovering secrets bound to create new opportunities in ag.Marc ZienkiewiczFueling the Future to cold and drought and goes well in An oilseed crop domesticated at leastsemi-arid conditions, as [we saw here in 3,000 years ago could help to mitigate theSaskatchewan this year]. It can be quite a effects of climate change in todays world.high yielding crop with fewer inputs than Elaine Qualtiere is on a mission to helpa lot of others. It checks all the boxes for a make that happen. so-called green crop, says Qualtiere, who Qualtiere is based in Saskatoon as ahas a masters degree in plant ecology breeding research associate for Smart Earthfrom the University of Saskatchewan. Camelina, a major developer of camelinaCamelina seeds are golden, brown, or varieties. Smart Earths varieties arereddish-brown when mature. They are used to feed a supply chain that deliv- oblong-oval and quite small. The seed oil ers camelina oil around the worldacontent is about 41 per cent.world becoming increasingly affectedPrior to arriving at Smart Earth by climate change. Camelina, she did a three-year stint with Camelina could play an importantBASF as a biologist and prior to that role in as a non-food, low-input feed- served as a research assistant with DuPont stock for the production of biofuelPioneer.and bio-based industrialSmart Earth currently runs a compre-products such as lubri- hensive camelina breeding program, one cants, hydraulic fluids andof the biggest in North America. With polymers. Its also ideallyaccess to one of the largest Camelina germ-suited as meal and oil forplasm collections at Plant Gene Resources animal feed and aquacul- of Canada, its camelina cultivars provide ture.a competitive oilseed alternative for the Camelinas heatgrower, both from an agronomic and an tolerance, low watereconomic standpoint, Qualtiere says.requirements and abilityWeve barely scratched the surface in to mature in a short grow- terms of discovering the potential that this ing season make it a goodcrop has. Were a long away from getting fit to fill fallow periodscamelina to the point that other oilseeds in dryland wheat farm- like canola have been brought to, but ing or, in regions likewere getting there.the northern U.S. GreatCamelina could one day become an Plains states, as a doubleeconomically feasible alternative to con-crop with short-seasonventional jet fuel under certain market soybeans or sunflowers.conditions, according to an Oregon State Elaine Qualtiere is based As a result, little to noUniversity analysis.in Saskatoon as a arable land is taken outSmart Earth is about to launch some breeding research of food production. new non-GMO herbicide tolerant varieties, associate for Smart It has toleranceso this oilseed is one to watch.Earth Camelina.12GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2021'