Calgary, Alta (Rural Roots Canada) — Research out of the University of Calgary has identified new biological pathways to improve shatter tolerance in canola, addressing one of the crop’s most persistent harvest challenges.

Pod shattering occurs during the cutting process and is a significant issue for farmers, causing average seed losses of about three per cent — translating to roughly $1.3 billion annually. If severe weather conditions occur, it can result in a 50 per cent loss.

“We figured out shatter is a big problem, and there were solutions to it, but people were focusing on this one solution,” says Dr. Marcus Samuel.

The research, which focuses on strengthening the canola pod, allows the pods to remain intact during cutting while still opening properly during combining.

“Our research really started with Dr. Samuel and Dr. López-Glorie finding a unique gene that upregulated the cement of the plant, leading to our discovery of shatter tolerance,” says Dr. Justin Nichol.

RELATED: Prairie Canola Grower Groups Invest $4 Million in Research for 2026

This protein discovery ensures that small impacts won’t open the pod, but it still forms properly and is able to open when the time is right.

With current cost pressures for farmers, including land and seed prices, the research team feels that reducing shatter is essential for saving lost time and money. The idea is that farmers will no longer have to use two machines for harvest — a swather and a combine harvester, but instead be able to use a straight cutter.

Dr. Samuel says that their research all began from the idea of wanting to create better options and solutions for farmers. “We wanted to understand how this whole shatter thing works in canola so that we can give farmers more options,” says Dr. Samuel.

The goal behind shatter tolerance is to see it at work in the field, mitigating loss for farmers, and to demonstrate that this technology will strengthen canola crops and lower costs. Dr. Samuel and his team believe that this innovation holds potential to help other main crops such as soybeans and field peas.

More information on the discovery of shatter tolerance can be found in this University of Calgary website.