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As an undergraduate, John Hubensky had no expectations to study agriculture, even though both of his parents were ‘farm kids’ with strong ties to farming communities in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ and the Okanagan, where Hubensky spent many summers as a child. By sheer luck, he took a course in plant pathology and felt an immediate affinity for the subject, which led to more classes in plant sciences and, eventually, a switch from biology/microbiology to the Crop Science program in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences.

Currently enrolled in the second year of a master's degree program in plant science in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, Hubensky says it wasn’t a straight shot back to the U of A. Initially, he enrolled in a graduate program under at UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems, but when Brar, a well-known Canadian wheat breeding and pathology researcher, moved to the U of A in 2024 to lead the , Hubensky followed.

“It’s good to be home,” says Hubensky, reflecting on his previous work as a precision agronomist where long days of fieldwork resulted in a camera roll full of sunrises and sunsets. “I love the prairies.”

With the objective of improving wheat's resilience to drought and maximizing grain count per head (or spike), Hubensky is examining gene expression in the wild wheat Aegilops tauschii, an ancestor to modern bread wheat. Specifically, he is targeting the trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase gene (TPP) in wheat, and its role in the sugar signalling pathways. Mutations or changes in the regulation of TPPs can alter grain development in crops like corn and barley, and related genes in this family are strongly linked to plant spike development and abiotic stress resilience, such as drought.

Hubensky’s graduate research is supported by the (WGRF) scholarship, which he says has freed him to concentrate fully on his research without financial strain. It is also an academic boost. “It keeps me motivated to do high quality work.”

The WGRF’s core priority is research investment, but having skilled researchers starts with supporting students like Hubensky and others who will go on to be the innovators of tomorrow — helping the agri-food industry in Canada remain strong and sustainable.

This microscope photo shows the first stages of a spike development. Photo: John Hubensky.

"The Western Grains Research Foundation has supported agricultural and food science research at the U of A for nearly four decades,” says Dean Rickey Yada. “Our researchers continue to play a vital role in addressing urgent global challenges, developing sustainable and resilient agricultural practices that can withstand the impacts of climate change, and improving food security. Our faculty, staff and students are advancing secure food sources to meet Canadians’ evolving and growing needs for future generations by engaging in collaborative, cutting-edge studies on crop genetics, soil health and sustainable farming techniques."

Sustainability has long been a critical part of Hubensky’s research. As an undergraduate at the U of A, he earned a Certificate in Sustainability which has consistently informed and shaped his graduate research path. Working as an agronomist directly in the field with farmers and industry, he witnessed first-hand the environmental challenges faced by farmers across western Canada, including disastrous crop failures due to drought.

"Creating sustainable environmental systems requires more than just looking at climate change," he says. "It's soil, air, water, diversity and ecosystem stability. It's about improving yield to feed our planet and contribute to the Canadian economy – and making our yields resilient to drought and environmental stress. I can't think of a better application of my skills."

In 2024, the (WGRF) renewed a five-year graduate student research scholarship (2025–2029) — the third renewal of this scholarship since it was first established in 2012. to provide scholarships to students pursuing their masters or PhD in any of WGRF’s priority research areas.