SASKATOON — Pankaj Bhowmik, Ph.D., said that for some, biotechnology is a big scientific word. But, to put it simply, it is a process of conducting research to solve global challenges, especially in agriculture, particularly farming, to improve food yields and produce pest-resistant crops.
Bhowmik said Saskatchewan's collaborative approach to agricultural research is drawing international attention as delegates from around the world gather in Saskatoon for the 16th International Association of Plant Biotechnology Congress from July 26 to 30 at TCU Place.
He said Saskatoon is a suitable choice to host the quadrennial conference, with the province known as Canada’s breadbasket for producing massive amounts of wheat, canola and mustard, and as the world's top exporter of lentils.
Bhowmik, the science advisor for National Research Council of Canada President Mitch Davies, added that the province's research ecosystem has become a model for accelerating innovation in crop development. This will be Canada’s second time hosting the congress, 48 years after Calgary.
This year's event is Saskatchewan’s opportunity to showcase its strengths in agricultural science, whose success is behind an integrated network of research institutions, universities, government organizations and industry partners that work closely with producers to move discoveries from laboratories to farms.
"Saskatoon has that ecosystem. We have the research we do in the labs, in academia, research institutes, the [NRC], the University of Saskatchewan and the Crop Development Centre. The companies collaborate, and the farmers can test those findings from the research lab in different locations through field testing,” said Bhowmik.
Bhowmik, who was also appointed as the secretary to Davies’ Research Excellence Advisory Committee in 2025, added that close collaboration helps speed the development of improved crop varieties capable of withstanding increasingly difficult growing conditions.
"Because of climate change, there is heat stress, drought, diseases, pests and insects. Crop variety development is a continuous process, and because of this collaboration we can accelerate that development. That's why Saskatchewan is unique," he said.
Bhowmik said that 32 countries are represented in the congress, which allows researchers to exchange ideas while learning from Saskatchewan's agricultural model, and the international gathering demonstrates growing global interest in how collaboration between researchers and producers can strengthen food production.
"Agriculture is facing unprecedented challenges, not only here but around the world. Farmers are dealing with climate change, drought, heat stress, emerging diseases and increasing pressure to produce more food with fewer resources," said Bhowmik.
He said that the discussions come at a time when plant biotechnology is becoming an increasingly important tool in helping producers adapt to those challenges, while also pointing to changing pest populations as another growing concern for producers.
"Plant biotechnology provides tools that can help develop crops that are more resilient to these stresses while supporting sustainability and food security. Because of climate change, we are experiencing new pests. Researchers, together with farmers and producer groups, are working closely to understand where these pests are coming from, how they affect plants and how we can better mitigate them," he said.
He said researchers are seeing new insects and diseases emerge as weather patterns shift, making it essential to understand their origins and life cycles better. One example he highlighted is the growing problem of the wild rice moth, which has become increasingly noticeable in recent years.
He said scientists are studying why some lakes experience severe infestations while others do not, combining traditional knowledge with scientific research to understand the insect's behaviour better. Rather than relying solely on chemical controls, Bhowmik said researchers are looking for sustainable management strategies that fit within natural ecosystems.
"Forty years ago, they didn't have that problem, so that means it's evolving. We are working to understand its life cycle, how it survives the winter and when we can intervene. We cannot use chemical pesticides in some situations, such as wild rice, so we have to find ways through understanding the natural life cycle of the insect, how it overwinters and how we can intervene. That's the kind of research collaboration that will help farmers adapt to future challenges," he said.
