2016 Dr. Keith Downey, agricultural research scientist, Saskatoon SK – one of the “Fathers of Canola” who played a key leadership role in the development of canola. Congratulations to Dr. Keith Downey, 2016 recipient of the Canola Influencer Award!

The story of canola began in 1942, the middle of World War II. At that time all trains and ships were steam powered and to keep them running smoothly, oil from the rapeseed species Brassica napus and B. rapa were essential.