SaskBarley Announces 2025 Graduate Scholarship Recipients, Expands Program with Labatt Partnership
January 6, 2026 [Saskatoon, SK] — The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), in partnership with Labatt Breweries of Canada (Labatt), is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 SaskBarley Scholarship Program, supporting graduate students whose research advances barley production, sustainability, and end-use innovation in Canada.
The program recognizes outstanding MSc and PhD students whose work delivers practical value for barley producers and strengthens Canada’s barley value chain—from farm to feedlot, malt house, and brewery. In 2025, SaskBarley awarded scholarships at the PhD, MSc, and MSc runner-up levels, with additional scholarships sponsored by Labatt to expand support for graduate research.
“Investing in new researchers is investing in the future of barley farming,” said Cody Glenn, Chair of SaskBarley. “These students are tackling real-world challenges facing producers and the value chain, and their work helps ensure barley remains a profitable, competitive crop for Saskatchewan farmers.”
SaskBarley Graduate Scholarships
- Lingjun Zhu — PhD Student, University of Alberta — $6,000
- Nolan Johnson — MSc Student, University of Alberta — $4,000
- Walker Maess — MSc Student (Runner-Up), University of Saskatchewan — $2,000
Graduate Scholarships Supported by Labatt Breweries of Canada
- Susane Trevisan — PhD Student, University of Manitoba — $6,000
- Lauren McNeil — MSc Student, University of British Columbia — $4,000
Research topics supported through the 2025 scholarships include livestock feed utilization, nitrogen management, precision agriculture and machine learning, malting and brewing performance, and the environmental sustainability of malting barley production. Together, these projects reflect the diversity and depth of research required to strengthen barley’s role in Canadian agriculture and global markets.
“Canadian barley, grown by Canadian farmers, is at the heart of Labatt’s beer,” said Jeff Ryan, Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs at Labatt Breweries of Canada. “Labatt applauds the recipients of this scholarship, whose future work will be instrumental in advancing our commitment to quality and innovation.”
The SaskBarley Scholarship Program is funded through Saskatchewan barley producer checkoff dollars and industry partnerships. The program supports students enrolled at Canadian universities whose research aligns with the priorities of barley producers and end-users.
For more information on SaskBarley’s Scholarship Program, visit saskbarley.com.
Media Contacts:
Serra McSymytz
Communications Manager
Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission
smcsymytz@saskbarley.com
Keely Kavcic
Corporate Communications Manager
Labatt Breweries of Canada
mediaenquiry@labatt.com
