U of S Insect Rearing Facility
Term: 1 year, beginning in 2021
Status: Ongoing
Funding Amount: $70,000
Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Sean Prager (University of Saskatchewan)
Funding Partners: Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Project Description
Insects are important components of ecosystems and affect ecosystem health and agricultural productivity. Insects can be both positive, such as pollinators and natural enemies, or negative in the form of pests. Historically, pests have been managed responsively through the use of pesticides. However, there is an increasing desire for alternative methods with less environmental impact and that are safer for beneficial insects. This desire can be seen, for instance, in the WGRF Field Heroes program (http://www.fieldheroes.ca). Further, as the crops grown in western Canada diversify, it becomes necessary to evaluate potential pests and to determine the risk and threats from different insect species. This requires knowledge of an insect's biology, including its preferences for food and habitat. The number one stated goal of WGRF is to “fund crop research to benefit Western Canadian grain farmers”. Specifically included in this objective is to proactively respond to production challenges and thus to generate pest management strategies. A focus of entomological research in the USask College of Agriculture and Biorseources is to develop new protective pest management strategies, particularly those which are safer and more sustainable. Research on pest insects requires the maintenance of colonies of these insects, pathogens, and plants. These insect colonies require specialized facilities including climate-controlled chambers designed to prevent accidental release of insects and cross contamination of insect colonies. USask currently has limited insect facilities so researchers depend on a hodgepodge of spaces and collaborations. Moreover, much of the plant growth space is unworkable since pests are controlled by insecticides and insects in the facility threaten the materials of other researchers. This WGRF Phase 2 Capacity proposal will fund construction of an insect research facility that meets the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Plant Protection Level 2-Arthropod (PPC-2A) requirements. This facility will add substantial research capacity to the USask and to Dr. Prager’s research in particular. There is currently no such facility available to USask researchers. The facility will allow research into proactive methods of managing insects resulting in new methods for predicting pest outbreaks, decreased pesticide use, development of new crop varieties, and biological control of weeds.