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EVOLVES – Enhancing the Value of Lentil Variation for Ecosystem Survival

Enhancing the Value of Lentil Variation for Ecosystem Survival (EVOLVES)
Canada is the largest lentil producer and exporter in the world. In 2015, Canadian lentils generated $2.5 billion in export revenue. The industry is seeking to enter the high-value food and ingredients sector and expects future lentil varieties will support this new venture.

The goals of EVOLVES are to: i) accelerate the deployment of specific quality traits through strategic use of genetic variability, and ii) improve the capability and agility of the breeding program so Canada can rapidly capture emerging market opportunities. Project outputs from EVOLVES will contribute to the Canadian pulse industry’s goal of diversifying market outlets and creating price stability. It will also secure Canada as the global leader in all aspects of lentil innovation and as a preferred supplier of high-quality lentils to the world.

Quick Facts

  • Project Leader(s):
    • Kirstin Bett
      (University of Saskatchewan)
    • Albert Vanderberg
      (University of Saskatchewan)
  • Project Manager:

    Laura Jardine

  • Project Value:

    $7.4 million

  • Genome Canada Contribution:

    $3.5 million

  • Other Funding Partners:

    Western Grains Research Foundation, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, BASF, University of Saskatchewan, Global Institute for Food Security, Marche Polytechnic University (Italy), Palacky University Olomouc (Czech Republic), AGT Food and Ingredients

  • Project Status:

    Ongoing (2019 - 2023)

  • Competition:

    Genome Canada 2018 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition
    Genome Prairie – Agriculture

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