New lentil and faba bean breeder at USask

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) will have a new lentil and faba bean breeder in 2024.

Dr. Ana Vargas will also serve as the Agri-Food Innovation Fund Chair at USask.

Vargas will lead the lentil and faba bean breeding program at the Crop Development Centre (CDC) in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. To date, the program has released 40 lentil and five faba bean varieties.

Vargas said they will be working towards developing lentil and faba bean varieties that will positively impact farmers and western Canadian agriculture.

“The Crop Development Centre and the University of Saskatchewan have a great history of excellence, innovation and collaboration that make our institution the best place to work,” Vargas said. “I look forward to building upon this great history through my experience and passion for pulses and crop improvement.”

Vargas grew up in Central America and worked in common bean and corn breeding before coming to USask for her PhD.

She received a master’s degree in agronomy from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez and a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from the Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Vargas obtained a PhD in plant breeding and genetics from USask in 2021, exploring genetic resources for improving nitrogen fixation and dissecting the genetics of nodulation among Lens species.