Growing the Future of Barley: Meet the 2025 SaskBarley Scholarship Recipients
Strong barley research starts with strong people—and this year, SaskBarley is supporting more of them than ever.
The 2025 SaskBarley Scholarship Program is backing graduate students across Canada who are working on practical, real-world research to improve barley production, sustainability and end-use performance. And with a new partnership with Labatt Breweries of Canada, that support is going even further.
More Investment, More Impact
SaskBarley’s scholarship program is all about investing checkoff dollars where they can help the most—into the next generation of researchers focused on issues that impact barley growers.
This year, a new partnership with Labatt has expanded the program, adding more scholarships at both the PhD and MSc levels. It’s a strong signal that the entire value chain—from farmers to brewers—is aligned in supporting innovation and long-term success for Canadian barley.
Meet the 2025 Scholarship Recipients
This year’s recipients are tackling research that spans the full barley value chain:
SaskBarley Scholarships
- Lingjun Zhu — PhD, University of Alberta
- Nolan Johnson — MSc, University of Alberta
- Walker Maess — MSc (Runner-Up), University of Saskatchewan
Labatt-Supported Scholarships
- Susane Trevisan — PhD, University of Manitoba
- Lauren McNeil — MSc, University of British Columbia
Research with Real-World Value
From the field to the end user, these students are digging into topics that matter to farmers and industry alike, including:
- Improving livestock feed efficiency
- Optimizing nitrogen use
- Using precision ag and machine learning tools
- Enhancing malting and brewing quality
- Boosting environmental sustainability
It’s the kind of research that helps producers stay competitive while meeting the evolving demands of end-users.
From Field to Pint
The new partnership with Labatt Breweries of Canada underscores how connected the barley value chain really is.
Quality barley is essential to great beer—and supporting research at the student level helps ensure Canadian growers continue to deliver. By investing in these students, Labatt and SaskBarley are helping strengthen the link from prairie fields all the way to the final product.
At the end of the day, this program is about more than funding—it’s about building capacity.
These students represent the future of barley research in Canada. Their work will help drive new practices, improve profitability and keep barley a strong option on the farm.
Read More: Meet the 2024 Scholarship Recipients
