Potato Innovation
Linda Schott is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba and the inaugural Research Chair in Potato Sustainability. Her research focuses on improving the sustainability and resilience of potato production systems through advances in agronomy, soil health, irrigation and water management, pest and disease control, and post-harvest storage.
Potatoes are a major food crop for Canada and a key contributor to agricultural economies across the country, particularly in provinces like Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Alberta. Her research supports more sustainable food production, strengthens food security, and helps farmers adapt to climate variability and extreme weather. It also contributes to the long-term competitiveness and environmental sustainability of Canada’s agri-food sector.
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1. What problem are you trying to solve, and why does it matter?
Potatoes are an important crop to Canada and globally. They are highly nutritious and an important staple crop, ranking the fourth highest in global production after rice, wheat, and maize. But potatoes are a tricky crop to grow. They grow underground, so they are highly susceptible to disease and pests. They typically require irrigation and are one of the only irrigated crops in Manitoba. A lot of potato research has been done in other parts of the world, and Manitoba is a unique growing region. I am eager to find win-win-win solutions for farmers, processors, and the environment where farmers can be profitable, processors have ample supply of high-quality potatoes, and soil and water quality is improved and protected. These integrated solutions require a lot of testing and problem-solving before they are widely adopted because changing one management decision can impact the whole potato supply chain. For example, one thing I am excited about is using cover crops and compost for integrated pest and disease management. They have been tested in other potato growing regions with mixed results but a lot of potential to reduce the need for chemical inputs. Compost and cover crops also increase soil organic matter, which is good for soil health. However, we also know that too much compost can cause potato quality issues in storage, which reduces supply to the processor and revenue to the farmer, and cover crops can be hard to manage. We need to find the optimal balance of compost and cover crops and chemical inputs for a win-win-win solution.
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2. What excites you most about your research right now?
I am excited about potato research in general. I was recently hired for the position after being an Extension Specialist and faculty member at the University of Idaho based in Southern Idaho. My research program there was focused primarily on soil health in diverse irrigated cropping systems, that included potato but also sugar beet, barley, silage corn, alfalfa, dry beans, and wheat. Now, I get to work in a single crop, but my research area expanded to be a lot more than soil health and now includes agronomy, pest and disease management, post-harvest storage, and water management, including irrigation. It’s essentially across the entire production chain of potato, which provides a lot of opportunity for integrated research projects. As an engineer, I love systems thinking, so potato production research is a good fit for me.
Manitoba has been a great place to live and work so far. The potato industry has been very supportive and are funding my Research Chair position. As a former Extension Specialist, working with the industry is a big asset for my research program. Those connections along with University of Manitoba resources, allow me to have a field program (both small plots and on-farm trials), laboratory program, and post-harvest storage research program. There are very few programs that are all encompassing as this one will be. I can not only test management practices in the field but also how these practices influence post-harvest storage and whether different management practices (i.e. curing duration and holding temperatures) are needed during the storage season.
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3. How could your research help shape Canada’s future?
The research that I am doing is specifically aimed at increasing and ensuring adequate, sustainable potato supply to processors in Manitoba. Ensuring that potato supply will enable Canada to be a leader in potato production for domestic and international markets. Canada’s potato research programs are also expanding and will be essential for addressing potato production challenges like disease and pest pressure, water management, and soil health. My research program is also training next generation scientists and a potato production course I am developing will create opportunities for workforce development in the potato industry.
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4. What inspired you to become a researcher?
I fell in love with research as an undergraduate student at Iowa State University. I took a job with a faculty member in Agricultural Engineering, which was my major, because I needed one, and I thought it would be more convenient to work on campus. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I had a hard time understanding the work I was doing. When I started thinking about what life after graduation would look like, I spoke to the faculty member about opportunities to continue on to get a master’s degree; she introduced me to another faculty member who was an Extension Specialist and was doing applied research.
It was a great fit and I realized very quickly that I wanted to work in Extension and do applied research. I went on to do a PhD at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I worked in extension and then got my job as a faculty member and Extension Specialist at the University of Idaho. I love working with farmers and industry to solve problems or improve efficiency. I also love learning, and being a researcher allows me to be a lifelong learner. Learning about different farming operations, management practices, emerging issues, and how different people and organizations are addressing problems is exciting. This knowledge helps ensure that the research I am doing is relevant and useful to project partners, like farmers, industry, and agronomists.
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5. Where can people read more about your work?
My contact information and links to my laboratory website and LinkedIn is here: https://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-food-sciences/plant-science/linda-schott