Dr. Wendy Lyzenga: combining science, passion and partnerships to advance innovation

With a passion for science to deliver sustainable food security, Dr. Wendy Lyzenga’s studies and career have taken her down the path of research and innovation across Canada.

The Senior Research Scientist at the Global Institute for Food Security at USask has dedicated her career to understanding the relationship between genetics and plant traits. She leverages this information to create tangible benefits for farmers, the agricultural industry and the environment.

“Science, specifically the impact of genetics excites me,” says Lyzenga. “I love the opportunity to take complex challenges, dig into them using scientific principles, and break them down into simple concepts and I embrace those challenges everyday as a scientist.”

Joining GIFS in 2018, Lyzenga brings expertise through her Bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology from the University of Calgary, her doctorate degree in plant molecular biology from Dalhousie University, and years of experience working in two federal research labs at the National Research Council of Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

GIFS’ role as a connector and an innovation catalyst means Lyzenga can work with diverse partners across the entire agriculture value chain. From research and academia to industry and government, GIFS occupies a space right in the centre of the innovation pipeline, serving as a bridge between knowledge generation and market-impacting innovation.

“GIFS has offered me the opportunity to work with an array of partners across industry, government and academia on research that will make a difference and create meaningful impact in the marketplace,” says Lyzenga. “We focus on leveraging the strengths of our partners in the public and private sectors, and this model enables us to serve as a connector across the value chain, and as an innovation catalyst for agriculture.”

One exciting initiative Wendy is bringing her expertise to is the FCC Accelerated Breeding Program at GIFS. The program combines technologies such as genomic selection, speed breeding, bioinformatics and digital twinning to increase the rate of genetic gain to support crop and livestock breeding programs and help deliver high-value products into the hands of producers faster.

Deployed for over 20 years in dairy and for more than a decade in crops such as corn and soybean through large corporations, the accelerated breeding program will provide public and private breeders with access to the same technologies not routinely available for crops and livestock important to Canada. By supporting Canadian agriculture’s productivity, competitiveness and sustainability, it will help to bolster the country’s global position as a reliable and sustainable producer of food for the world.

Lyzenga is thrilled to lead high priority research projects aligned to the accelerated breeding program, collaborating across GIFS’ technology platforms, building key strategic relationships within the innovation ecosystem, and mentoring and training a future generation of scientists while doing so.

“At its core, plant breeding may seem focused on plants and genetics, but fundamentally, it’s about people — and what people need from our crops. Modern plant breeding is a collective effort in which many stakeholders unite around common goals within a competitive market,” says Lyzenga. “I’m excited to advance the FCC Accelerated Breeding Program at GIFS through a combination of both science and leadership.”

As a scientist, she embraces her roles as a lifelong learner, teacher, and mentor, valuing the enthusiasm, optimism, and fresh perspectives students bring. As a new Associate Member of the Plant Science Department at the University of Saskatchewan, she will help cultivate student talent, skills, and passion for rewarding careers in agriculture.