E-Delivery

INDUSTRY INNOVATOR AWARD Many of the dry bean cul vars from Muendel's program also had improved resistance to white mould while maintaining high yield and quality. Muendel also served as an ex-officio director for Alberta Pulse Growers. Zone 1 Director Rodney Volk had high praise for Muendel's contribu ons to the pulse industry that con nue to benefit dry bean growers like himself. "Dr. Muendel was instrumental in establishing the breeding program that developed dry bean cul vars specific to southern Alberta growing condi ons," Volk said. "The success of dry bean produc on in southern Alberta today can be largely credited to his program's development of local varie es with improved standability and disease resistance. Many of today's pinto and great northern varie es s ll have a direct connec on to the lines Dr. Muendel developed." Muendel said that he was honoured to learn that he was chosen as the recipient of the fourth annual Industry Innovator Award. "It has been 10 years since I re red," Muendel explained, "and now - with our bean varie es having spread throughout the Alberta dry bean growing area - on behalf of my breeding team, it is such an honour to accept this award. Some mes we were daring: releasing a shiny black, DR. HANS-HENNING MUENDEL HONOURED AS 2018 RECIPIENT Dr. Muendel at the Lethbridge Research Centre The Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) selected Dr. Hans-Henning Muendel, who was instrumental in developing numerous bean cul vars for Alberta growers, as the winner of the fourth annual Alberta Pulse Industry Innovator Award. "Each year, APG recognizes a person or organiza on whose progressive thinking and reless efforts helped build Alberta's pulse industry into the flourishing industry that it is today," said APG Chair D'Arcy Hilgartner. "Dr. Muendel dedicated his career to developing the dry bean cul vars that now set the standard for small red, black and great northern cul vars in Western Canada. He truly deserves to receive the Alberta Pulse Industry Innovator Award for his many contribu ons." In 1996, there weren't any dry bean cul vars being grown in Western Canada that had been bred in this region. Over the next 11 years as the Senior Research Scien st at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in Lethbridge, Muendel and his team developed 14 dry bean cul vars in seven bean classes, and co-developed one other new bean cul var. Muendel's bean breeding program concentrated on producing early maturing bean cul vars that were well-suited to the short growing seasons of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. AC Black Diamond in 2000, with a very limited market. Yet that market grew and AC Black Diamond is s ll grown!" "Dr. Muendel dedicated his career to developing the dry bean cultivars that now set the standard for small red, black and great northern cultivars in Western Canada. He truly deserves to receive the Alberta Pulse Industry Innovator Award!" - APG Chair D'Arcy Hilgartner 1 6

• Cover