4   SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA   JULY 2026
PLANT BREEDING IS   one of agriculture’s most powerful innova­
tion engines. Each year, behind the scenes, breeders are devel­
oping the varieties that help farmers adapt, compete and thrive 
— crops with stronger performance, better resilience and the 
potential to shape the future of food production.
That work is the focus of the 2026 Canadian Plant 
Breeding Innovation (CPBI) Awards.
Now in its seventh year, the CPBI Awards program recog­
nizes achievement, innovation and impact in Canadian plant 
breeding. It celebrates researchers at multiple stages of their 
careers, from rising students just beginning to make their mark 
to established breeders whose work has already changed the 
field.
The program was created in 2020, when the Seed of the 
Year Award and its associated scholarships were brought 
together with the Canadian Plant Breeding and Genetics 
Award under one national umbrella. Today, it serves as a 
showcase for the people and programs driving plant-breeding 
progress across Canada.
The awards are built around three key pillars.
• The CPBI Scholarships recognize promising young plant 
breeders. This year, with the support of 10 sponsors, three 
The 2026 CPBI Awards shine a spotlight on the scientists and students redefining what’s 
possible in Canadian crop development. 
By Marc Zienkiewicz, Seed World Canada Senior Editor 
6 LEADERS ADVANCING THE 
FUTURE OF PLANT GENETICS
students will each receive a $3,000 scholarship to help advance 
their work.
• The Seed of the Year award honours breeders behind a 
game-changing variety — and highlights the importance of 
strong breeding programs to Canadian agriculture.
• The Canadian Plant Breeding and Genetics Award, 
sponsored by Seeds Canada and Seed World Canada, is pre­
sented annually to a public- or private-sector researcher who has 
made a significant contribution to Canadian plant agriculture 
through work in plant breeding and genetics.
Together, the awards tell a bigger story: crop innovation 
does not happen by accident. It is built by researchers, students, 
institutions and sponsors who understand that better seeds are 
central to agriculture’s future.
This year’s CPBI Awards celebrate three scholarship recipi­
ents and two visionary breeders — one from the University of 
Saskatchewan and another from Agriculture and Agri-Food 
Canada in Ottawa — a group whose work reflects both the 
depth of Canadian plant-breeding expertise and the promise of 
what comes next.
Congratulations to this year’s honourees and thank you to 
the sponsors below who make the scholarships possible. 

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