Human Practices
January
Club Rush Week
January 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Club Rush Week is an annual event where university clubs and organizations showcase their activities and recruit new members. During this week, the ULeth iGEM team set up a booth to introduce students to synthetic biology and our current project. We engaged with students through interactive displays, answered questions about iGEM, and shared how joining the team offers opportunities for hands-on research, collaboration, and innovation. Our goal was to spark interest in synthetic biology and grow our team with passionate, curious minds ready to contribute to our project.
Cover Your ASSets
January - February 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Our team members participated in the "Cover Your ASSets" series on intellectual property (IP), which provided a comprehensive overview of various IP types, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs. The sessions covered key topics such as the importance of protecting IP, the intricacies of obtaining patents, the value of trademarks, and the often-overlooked significance of copyrights in business operations. Additionally, the series addressed IP ownership and funding opportunities to help companies safeguard their assets. Led by Dr. Suzanne Sjovold, an experienced IP legal expert, the sessions aimed to equip participants with essential knowledge for navigating the IP landscape and fostering innovation
February
U of L Play Day
February 19, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
The University of Lethbridge hosts Play Day every year for Family Day, where families can come and have fun with various activities and clubs on campus. Our iGEM team participated this past year by hosting a Dino DNA activity for youth. This event provides us with an outreach opportunity by allowing us to connect with our community.
AG Expo & North American Seed Fair
February 27-29, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
This past year, the iGEM team was once again able to attend the AG Expo & North American Seed Fair held in Lethbridge, AB. This event is held annually and displays the most recent agricultural research and advancements made in technology. Our team was able to conversate with many industry leaders and professionals, such as Corteva, 20/20 Seed Labs, Advanced AG, and Alltech Canada. We discussed Clubroot and how each company was involved in preventing the spread of it. We also pitched our project to many businesses to receive insightful critiques about how we could improve it. This is also where we obtained most of our contact information for the several interviews we were able to conduct this past season, which helped us further refine our project.
Agility Trailblazing
February - March 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Our team members participated in the "Trailblazing" entrepreneurship course, designed for individuals looking to transform their business ideas into reality. The program covered essential topics such as identifying target customers, competitive analysis, creating value propositions, financial planning, and building effective pitch decks. Over six weeks, participants learned to refine their ideas, develop prototypes, and prepare for successful pitching by utilizing expert guidance and hands-on assignments. This training not only equipped us with practical skills but also specifically prepared us for our upcoming pitch competition with LaunchPoint, enhancing our ability to effectively communicate our business concepts and attract potential investors. The course fostered a supportive environment for early-stage entrepreneurs to validate and elevate their business concepts.
March
Launch Point Pitch Competition
March 15, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Our team participated in the Launch Point Pitch Competition 2024 from January to March, where we were thrilled to win 3rd place overall in the student stream! This competition provided a valuable platform for early-stage entrepreneurs in the Lethbridge region, featuring two rounds of pitching. In the first round, we submitted a 3-minute video pitch, and the top contestants then progressed to a 10-minute live pitch. We effectively communicated the problem our business addresses, our unique solution, revenue projections, and a clear "ask" for support. Winning this competition not only validated our business idea but also showcased the skills and insights we gained from the "Trailblazing" entrepreneurship course. We're excited about the opportunities this victory opens up for us and the prize money went towards funding our team.
InVentures
March 15, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Inventures Canada is a platform that connects innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs with investors and industry leaders, fostering collaboration and growth. Our iGEM team completed the application for Inventures 2024, which gave us the opportunity to highlight the various pitch events we’ve participated in and showcase the progress of our project. The process also pushed us to dive deeper into identifying our addressable market, refining our research, and ensuring our project is positioned to make a real-world impact.
Mindfuel Skills Building Workshop
March 2-3, 2024 | Calgary, AB
MindFuel is an organization committed to cultivating innovative talent in youth through a range of workshops and competitions. Our iGEM team had the privilege of participating in a two-day series of workshops hosted by MindFuel, where we gained valuable insights into dry-lab, wet-lab, and entrepreneurial skills, such as how to use a miniprep kit and how to use a 3D printer. These sessions were led by industry professionals, including David Lloyd and Emily Hicks from Fredsense. The opportunity to learn directly from experts in the field was instrumental in guiding our project towards success.
April
Donor Gala
April 24, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
The University of Lethbridge hosts an annual Donor Gala where private donors can learn more about how their generous contributions help both the university and groups on campus. Since we receive donations from the university, we wanted to show our appreciation and demonstrate the work that we have done so far.
May
Highway Cleanup
May 4, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
May 4, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB To support our team initiatives, the C.R.O.P.S. team participated in Alberta’s Highway Cleanup Program, which aims to keep the province’s highways clean. This non-profit program offers funding opportunities to groups and clubs, such as our iGEM team. As part of the event, our team members traveled to various highways, collecting litter along the roadsides, contributing to both environmental stewardship and securing valuable funds for our projects.
Mindfuel Prototype Challenge
May 25-26, 2024 | Calgary, AB
Our iGEM team had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Mindfuel Tech Futures Challenge, a prestigious competition that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship in STEM. The Prototype phase of the competition allowed teams to showcase their projects to other Mindfuel teams and a panel of expert judges. We entered two teams—one for our rapid detection kit and the other for our biopesticide.
Participating in this challenge was incredibly valuable for our team. Not only did it give us a chance to put our hard work on display, but it also provided us with crucial practice in delivering professional pitches. Presenting our ideas in a high-pressure, real-world setting was a fantastic learning experience. The feedback we received from the judges was especially meaningful, offering insightful critiques on both the scientific aspects and the practical applications of our projects. This feedback has been instrumental in helping us identify areas where we can improve, refine our designs, and better articulate the potential impact of our solutions. The event proved to be a major success for our team, as our Detection team won the Best Prototype Award for Collegiate teams, validating the strength and innovation behind our project. Overall, the Mindfuel Tech Futures Challenge not only boosted our confidence in presenting but also gave us the tools to improve our project moving forward.
Participating in the challenge not only helped us develop our technical skills but also allowed us to grow as a team, learning how to present complex ideas effectively. We're proud of our achievements and are excited to continue improving our prototype.
THRIVE Studio Sprint
May-June, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Our team participated in the THRIVE Studio Sprint, an 8-week agrifood tech venture validation process designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs build and validate their business ideas. We were proud to be one of just 10 teams selected from 75 groups across Canada for the second cohort. This program provided us with essential tools and support to transform our concepts into a validated minimum viable product (MVP). Throughout the sprint, we experienced an accelerated process that allowed us to design and build our venture efficiently while adopting a lean startup mindset. The collaborative environment facilitated learning with other entrepreneurs, and we gained valuable connections and feedback from business experts on how to capitalize on our project.
June
Interview with Dr. Kim Kenwards | 20/20 Seed Labs
June 14, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB and Nisku, AB
Early in June, we had the opportunity to talk to Kim Kenwards who is the research and development manager for 20/20 Seed Labs in Nisku, Alberta. 20/20 Seed Labs provides a variety of testing services, molecular diagnostics, and crop inspections and is Canada’s first fully accredited, independently owned Seed testing laboratory. 20/20 Seed Labs provides 3 options for clubroot testing to specifically identify P. brassicae, which is why we knew it would be valuable to our project to get insight into how they go about testing for Clubroot, the testing protocols and the turn-around time for the growers to get their test results back.
Our Prospore detection kit is built with the idea of having a testing option that provides faster results than that you can get from a lab like 20/20 Seed Labs. We learned that growers can get their results for a Clubroot test from 20/20 Seed Labs in 2 days, which is faster than the one week we had originally documented.
One of the valuable pieces of information we learned from Kim is the protocol they use for soil sampling specifically for Clubroot. Traditional methods of soil testing utilize a ‘W’ shaped pattern where soil samples are taken from the field in a ‘W’ pattern and all added together. Alternatively, Kim described the importance of changing this traditional method when dealing with Clubroot, keeping in mind the nature of the disease and how it spreads. Clubroot spores usually get brought into new fields by farm equipment, trucks, or boots that have infected soil on them. Because of this, it is suggested that you focus on taking soil samples in the hot spots of a field. For example, you should test in the first 50 yards from the primary entrance used in the field and slightly to the right since it is typical for vehicles to drive in and go right. In addition to focussing on the entrances, it is important to keep in mind the field's history when sampling a field. Kim provided an example of a case where a clubroot infection seemed to randomly occur in the center of the field, however, after further investigation, it was discovered that there used to be a homestead with a vegetable garden in that location. Clubroot could have been introduced by other brassica plants that once grew there. This information is important to us because it can be included in our soil testing protocol that will be utilized in our test kit so that you can get the most representative test result.
Other key takeaways from our interview with Kim include the best timing to test for Clubroot. If the grower is not planning to plant a susceptible host that year i.e. Canola, then you can sample the field at any time. However, if you plan to plant a susceptible host then planting in the springtime prior to seeding is ideal. She advises not testing in the fall because the spores are still in the galls of the plant, and haven't been released back into the soil.
Kim also brought up other potential users of our kit other than Canola farmers. Land reclaimers, oilfield workers, and land buyers/counties, all could benefit from having a rapid detection kit. Those who sell soil need to test for clubroot to ensure that they are not spreading the pathogen by selling infected soil. Oilfield workers regularly enter and exit fields and it is beneficial for them to know the status of the soil before they enter to protect themselves legally. Furthermore, land buyers could want to test for clubroot in the soil prior to purchasing land since it will affect how they can use the land. Also, some Counties monitor the spread of Clubroot in their area, and having a rapid detection kit would be more convenient for them to test.
Finally, Kim shared a problem that arose with an antibody test strip which was developed to test a different canola disease. Farmers who used these test strips would store the strip in the glovebox of their vehicle where it would get very hot in the summer months. The heat would be too hot for the antibodies and the test strip became ineffective. From this, Kim recommended testing the stability of our proteins over time, especially at different temperatures. Because of these recommendations, our Dry lab team ran simulations to see how our proteins would react at more extreme temperatures.
July
HYRS Presentation - How to Make a Scientific Poster
July 10, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
HYRS is the Highschool Youth Research Summer Program held across Alberta. It is an organization designed to promote research to youth so that they can learn about the different opportunities within their nearest universities. Over the summer, iGEM was asked to host an event teaching how to make a scientific poster. This was a wonderful opportunity for us as we were able to connect with younger students through research and talk about the research that our iGEM team has done with our Scientific Poster.
Interview with Hal Reed | Advanced AG
July 15, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB and Raymond, AB
Hal Reed has over 45 years of Agronomy experience and six years working with Advanced Ag, a local company that are global leaders in biological technology. We interviewed Hal to gain insight into what growers are looking for as well as to learn more about what Advanced Ag is doing in biological research.
Locally, Hal mentioned how he has not dealt with any cases of fields with Clubroot, which is to be expected as the Lethbridge area is currently still outside of the Clubroot hotspots. However, a few hours outside of Lethbridge around Brooks, Alberta, Hal has worked with growers who have dealt with Clubroot. “The two things Lethbridge has that Brooks does not have are high pH and high calcium,” Hal believes these are two things that have a direct effect on Clubroot. When asked how growers typically respond to being told they have Clubroot in their fields, Hal described how there is usually a variety of responses. “Farmers are good stewards of the land, however for farmers, it needs to make them money and it needs to be easy.” Hal went on to mention how the farmers in Brooks have just accepted that it is going to be something that is a part of their life.
For our project, we need to keep in mind the customers we are trying to target and for us, that is farmers who need their solutions to make economic sense as well as be simple. Our Prospore Rapid Detection kit is aiming to provide just that, a cheap and easy testing option for farmers. Furthermore, we want to develop a biopesticide that can help mitigate the effects of Clubroot on Canola crops. Providing an option for Clubroot mitigation for farmers is important because it gives them an action plan for how they can combat the disease. Hal summarized the importance of providing farmers not only with a testing tool but also a mitigation plan when he said, “You can give me all kinds of information but if you don’t have a solution to go along with it, it’s kinda pointless.”
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Field Day
July 18th 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre held an open house, offering the public an inside look into both its historical background and current research initiatives. We had the opportunity to speak with experts about their soil purification methods, which gave us valuable insights for refining our own soil purification protocol for our detection kit. The event also included a bus tour that took us to various locations and fields, where we learned about crop diseases, cutting-edge agricultural technology such as drones, and more about the station’s significant history in Canadian agriculture.
Interview with Ethan Steele | Alltech Canada
July 19, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB and Calgary, AB
Ethan is a new member of the Alltech team; however, he has encountered Clubroot numerous times with the company he previously worked for, which dealt with canola Seed Production. Since canola is an engineered plant, farmers must buy new seeds each year to be planted, which is why seed production fields are crucial for the longevity of Canola production in Western Canada. Ethan exclaimed how “Clubroot in seed production fields writes off that field entirely.” Because of this, companies involved in seed production rely on accurate Clubroot tests to ensure no fields are accidentally infected. This is why he thinks that seed companies would be interested in our rapid detection kit.
Furthermore, Ethan talked about how, in his experience, farmers are very hesitant to even know that there is Clubroot in the field, especially since there aren't many options currently available to mitigate the disease. Our project hopes to give farmers more options for how they can detect Clubroot as well as provide the next steps if they find Clubroot.
Destination Exploration
July 25, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB - InnovateHER
August 15, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB - iGEM Workshop
The Destination Exploration youth outreach program invited the uLeth iGEM team to run and design science-based activities for kids from grades 3-6 interested in STEM. Our activities included extracting DNA from a banana and using purple cabbage juice as a pH indicator to determine the identity of a variety of solutions based on pH. Prior to starting each activity, we introduced the topic to the kids (DNA and pH respectively), provided a quick demo of how to perform the experiment, and answered any questions that the kids had. Moreover, the DNA extraction was a fun hands-on activity that allowed for the visualization of the DNA contained in a banana. Once the extraction was done, we moved on to the next activity, the identification of mystery liquids via pH. This activity allowed us to explain (and show) how purple cabbage can be boiled to make a purple solution with natural pH-indicating properties. A variety of household products (vinegar, baking soda, etc.) have different pHs and the purple solution goes from red to blue (from high to low pH respectively).
Interview with Sarah Rice | Strathcona County
July 30, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB and Strathcona County, AB
To gain a better understanding of how agricultural communities manage the threat of clubroot in their farms, we reached out to Sarah Rice, who is a member of the Agricultural and Environment Council in Strathcona County. They specialize in Crop Health, dealing with diseases in plants, roots, and specifically clubroot. She shared with us methods they have developed to tackle the challenges of testing and managing clubroot in their fields.
In terms of testing, the location of testing is important to detect clubroot more efficiently. They prefer to test the soil located at the entrance of the fields. Their general testing timeline is around mid to late August or early September. Additionally, they utilize an in-house GIS-Team-produced app and techniques such as Field Driving to map and document where clubroot has been discovered. Strathcona County has partnered with several labs to facilitate more in-depth testing, for example, pathotype testing.
Sarah was kind enough to give a few key pieces of advice for how other counties can mitigate and manage clubroot:
- Prioritize the use of Clubroot resistant varieties of seeds.
- Practice sanitation protocols for both producer and industry groups that are actively involved in the farming process.
- Pre-test a field to ensure there is no presence of Clubroot.
- Work with labs for Clubroot Pathotyping to figure out what strain of clubroot is present. This allows for more targeted mitigation actions.
- Crop rotation is also highly recommended.
JulyGEM
July 28-30, 2024 | Calgary, AB
To prepare for the Grand JAmboree, the C.R.O.P.S. team participated in a mock presentation event alongside other iGEM teams. During this event, our projects were evaluated by a panel using a similar rubric reflective of what will be applied at the Jamboree. This process allowed us to identify key areas of focus and address any weaknesses in our project. The feedback from the judges, insights from other iGEM teams, and presentations from industry professionals further provide us with valuable guidance, particularly in advancing one of our key deliverables: entrepreneurship. Overall, this event was an excellent opportunity for our team to practice presenting the project helping to effectively communicate at the Grand Jamboree.
August
Interview with Jeff Crampton | Alltech Canada
August 8, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB and Calgary, AB
Jeff has been with Alltech Crop Science since 2018 but has been involved in agriculture his entire life. In our discussion, we talked about how there is no silver bullet with managing Clubroot and how it's going to take a combination of best management practices on behalf of the producer, crop rotation, and detection tools to manage the disease.
Even though Alltech doesn’t have a product on the market targeting Clubroot in large canola fields, they have seen some success with their products in managing clubroot in some other brassica crops like cauliflower and broccoli. It was very insightful to learn the mechanism of how these products are working to mitigate the effects of the disease. Jeff described how their product works by being a food source for beneficial microbes, which can increase the number of beneficial microbes in the soil in the root biosphere to the point where they’re outcompeting some of the pathogens as a food source.
Knowing that these products have had a positive effect on mitigating clubroot in other brassica crops is exciting for our team because it means there's a possibility of creating a similar product that can work on a larger scale for use in Canola crops. Finally, Jeff suggested that we speak to big agricultural retailers to multiply our efforts for the detection kit.
HYRS Poster Presentation
August 15, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
The HYRS organization invited us to their Year-End Poster Presentation, where all of its students would present their research using a scientific poster. Since we had taught the students how to create a poster, HYRS wanted us to come and show off our most recent poster as well. This allowed us to explain some of our research in more detail to curious students and university faculty attending and engage more with the younger community at the University.
Interview with Angela Veenstra | Sturgeon County
August 23, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB and Sturgeon County, AB
We wanted to see how our product could have more of a positive impact on the community, so we reached out to Angela Veenstra in Sturgeon County. She is a communication advisor for the Sturgeon County government and has been working in that position for 17 years. Additionally, Angela was present when clubroot first presented itself in the fields of Sturgeon, hence she has had first-hand experience learning how to test for and manage clubroot utilizing the variety of equipment and resources available. Angela reflected on the beginning of handling clubroot and reported on the difficulty of management due to the large-scale outbreak and how rapidly the disease spreads. At the time, strain-resistant seeds were not yet available, which increased the difficulty of containment.
A key point which Angela brought up was that, depending on the way the land is to be used, the presence of clubroot might not cause a negative effect. For example, traditional land used for agricultural resources must deal with the effects of mitigation, however other lands marked for industrial development or construction are able to use the land easily as they have no need to use susceptible crops. On the other hand, construction projects such as pipelines are more vigilant about the existence of clubroot in the field despite having no connection to agriculture. This is because they do not wish to contribute to the increasing spread of clubroot to other fields, and it also helps them avoid conflict with landowners or producers.
Sturgeon County mainly deals with the transport of soil, both within the county and externally. Currently, rather than testing the soil, they prefer to test the plant tissue samples for resistance breakdown in their fields. To facilitate efficiency, they need to be able to test the soil quickly; hence, Angela showed a key interest in our rapid detection kit. The kit would reduce the turnover time significantly and allow them to make urgent decisions about the transport of their soil. Angela further stated that our rapid detection kit would address several of the challenges that they face in managing clubroot and that she would keep an eye on the progress.
Additionally, for future development, she requests a rapid kit that is able to not only detect clubroot but identify specific strains as it would bring about an advantage.
Interview with Agricultural Agronomics in Parkland County | Parkland County
August 29, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB and Parkland County, AB
Our interview with a representative from Parkland County, AB provided valuable insights into current practices for testing Clubroot in the county’s fields. The primary source of testing and monitoring for Clubroot in the county’s fields is done by pulling 100 plants in every canola field. Testing is done through root sample DNA in a lab to test for the presence of the pathogen. According to the representative, Parkland County used to test every suspected case, however, they currently limit laboratory testing for fields that have no prior history of confirmed Clubroot cases.
In fields where the pathogen has already been confirmed, visual confirmation of galls on the Canola plant’s roots is typically considered sufficient, unless more extensive pathotype testing is deemed necessary, which is then conducted by an external researcher. During the interview, it was emphasized that if 15 out of the 100 Canola plants sampled within a field are found to be infected, it is at this point that possible extra testing is done with a researcher. Furthermore, at this threshold, county officials initiate communication with farmers and/or landowners about potential management methods.
Management methods and strategies include crop rotations, equipment cleaning and sanitation, and resistant varieties. In cases where specific Clubroot pathotypes are confirmed and identified in the county, such messages are relayed to the farmers and/or landowners.
Our representative from Parkland County mentioned that within the county, sampling of fields is typically done in mid-July, but at times it can extend to as late as late September/early October. Farmers are also advised to implement crop rotation once every 4 years to help mitigate the risk of Clubroot infestation.
However, questions about broader concerns about the county’s relationship with Clubroot and its impact on the community’s well-being were not able to be addressed during the interview.
Let’s Talk Science and YMCA Summer Camp iGEM Day
August 30, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
This past summer, the University of Lethbridge iGEM team partnered with Let’s Talk Science to introduce youth to iGEM, synthetic biology, and some of the laboratory skills that we use in our lab. Let’s Talk Science is an organization that promotes science to young people through summer camps and school presentations. We were able to participate in one of their summer camps where we hosted four different activities that involved different parts of synthetic biology. This initiative helped empower and engage youth to learn about stem and to establish a fun learning environment to help foster the next generation of scientists and researchers.
September
University of Lethbridge New Student Orientation
September 3, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Every year the University of Lethbridge has the New Student Orientation Day, which is an event that allows new students to come to the university and see all that it has to offer. Seminars and lectures are held, and different departments and clubs have tables explaining what they do and what they are involved in. Our iGEM team partnered up with the University of Lethbridge BioChem department and had a table explaining what we were. We explained to new students what our research was and how they could apply for the team in the upcoming year.
Fresh Fest Festival Volunteering
September 6-8, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Our iGEM team volunteered at Fresh Fest, a vibrant music festival organized by our university's student union to welcome students back to school at the beginning of the fall semester. We assisted with both the setup and takedown of the event, helping ensure everything ran smoothly. Volunteering at Fresh Fest was a great way for our team to contribute to the campus community and raise funds for our trip to the Jamboree!
Chinook Presentation
September 13, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
Competing in the 17th annual Chinook Symposium hosted by the University of Lethbridge’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, our team participated in yet another poster and oral presentation competition that aims to recognise undergraduate and graduate students performing original research in chemistry and biochemistry. This event helped our team to develop our skills in communicating and delivering our project towards other student researchers, judging panels, and individuals from diverse disciplines and backgrounds.
Inclusivity Cafe
September 18, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB
The Inclusivity in STEM event aimed to foster a deeper understanding and dialogue around the importance of inclusivity within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). By bringing together a diverse group of students, faculty, industry professionals, and community members, the event sought to highlight the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in STEM fields and to explore solutions that can promote equity, access, and belonging for all.
The event featured three panelists, Dr. Dena McMartin, Dr. Prashant Pandey, and Dr. Habiba Kadiri. All three panelists are Doctors in STEM-related fields who have first-hand experience regarding inclusivity in STEM and believe that improvement in inclusivity can improve STEM fields.
Through this event, we aim to inspire attendees to become advocates for diversity and inclusion in their academic and professional lives, recognizing that inclusivity drives innovation, enhances problem-solving, and leads to more equitable outcomes in STEM and beyond.
Interview with Carter Bodell | Sturgeon Valley Fertilizers
September 20, 2024 | Lethbridge, AB and Australia
After talking with Angela Veenstra in our interview, she offered some contacts that she believed would further help us with our project. One of these individuals was Carter Bodell, who is an Agronomist and Account Manager at Sturgeon Valley Fertilizer LTD. Being from Sturgeon Valley and working as both an Agronomist and farmer, he had some unique viewpoints about Clubroot and how a new detection kit could impact the Canola industry.
Before we began to ask our questions regarding Clubroot, Bodell highlighted what Sturgeon Valley Fertilizers did to help mitigate Clubroot. Their most recent project has been adding packets of granular calcium around the Canola seeds to increase the pH of the soil. Since Clubroot does not like high pH, the hope is to fend off Clubroot spores around the seed so that it can grow and have a higher chance of fighting against the spores.
Bodell explained to us how many farmers are in denial about having Clubroot in their fields, even when they receive multiple positive results for it. This is due to several reasons, one of them being how many farmers do not have a third crop that they could use in a three-year rotation. Many farmers in the area only grow wheat and canola, and since canola is so valuable, many farmers are willing to take a risk and grow it in the same field without waiting the recommended time of three to four years. Another reason for this denial is that many farms have been run by the same family for generations, which means that certain ways of running the farm have been heavily ingrained. These farmers do not want to change the practices that they have been doing for the past 50 years because it has worked for them so far. Since there is minimal community support for these farmers to make the changes necessary to potentially combat Clubroot, they would have to do it all on their own. This can prove incredibly difficult, especially if the process needs time and money that farmers do not have.
We also asked about the probability of Clubroot continuing to spread further south towards Southern Alberta, and he said that it was possible. He told us that Clubroot had spread quite well through the water systems, contaminating fields that either touched the creeks and canals or that used the water. However, since we do have soil with a higher pH, he said that it would be less likely for it to spread down quickly.
Sustainability was another topic that was brought up during our discussion regarding the mitigation methods for Clubroot. Some of the only mitigation methods that farmers are using are planting resistant varieties and crop rotation. Bodell believed that these methods were not sustainable as there has been an increase in second-generation breakdowns and new pathotypes of Clubroot are emerging as fast as the seed companies can create new resistant varieties. Bodell attributes some of the practices being used to ignorance of how bad Clubroot is truly becoming in the area.
We lastly asked about the potential market for a new detection kit like what we were working on. Bodell loved the idea and exclaimed that having a cheaper test kit could be a game-changer for detecting Clubroot. There is definitely a market for something like a Lateral Flow Assay test, and he thinks that many farmers and businesses would be very interested. The price of the current tests can be too expensive for farmers, especially when they have multiple fields that they need to test in multiple locations. This cost is not worth it to a lot of farmers, so they avoid testing and deny if they have any Clubroot spores in their fields. If there was an alternative that farmers could use themselves to test, Bodell believes that more farmers would begin to test for the spores and care about Clubroot being in their fields. However, the issue of mitigating Clubroot still persists. There is new research into fumigating fields to eliminate Clubroot, but Bodell confirmed that the market for new mitigation techniques is also open for new ideas.
ASTech Awards Dinner – September 27, 2024
September 27th, 2024 | Calgary, AB
Six members of our iGEM team got the opportunity to attend the 35th annual ASTech Awards opening ceremony at the end of September. The ASTech awards have showcased Alberta’s excellence in science, technology, and leadership by recognizing individuals, organizations, and teams at their annual prestigious awards event, bringing together industry, academia, government, and entrepreneurs to reward excellence and inspire innovation. This year, ASTech wanted to highlight the younger generation of innovators. They did this by inviting Mindfuel to showcase their work at the event and highlight the recent winners of the Mindfuel Future Tech Challenge. Our team, along with the high school Mindfuel future tech winners, and the 2022 collegiate winners were invited on stage to share our projects and why our projects are so important. By attending this event we were not only able to share our project with other motivated innovators from a variety of different fields, but we also got the opportunity to learn what other people and groups are working on to drive technology forward. Molly, a member of our human practices subgroup, shared her experience at the ASTech opening ceremonies. “This event was a great networking opportunity for our team, as we got to speak with people from different generations and industries. I had a great conversation with a gentleman in the textile industry who shared how his company is working on using fibers from Hemp plants in textiles, especially for PPE. I shared how increasing the demand for another crop could give growers another option to use in their crop rotation, which, in turn, can help in the control of clubroot.” Altogether, the ASTech awards were a great exposure event for our team to share not only our project but also learn from other leaders who are driving innovation in Alberta.