University of Manitoba biosystems engineer Dr. Digvir Jayas has been awarded the prestigious Canada Research Chair for his work on the advanced methods of storing grain. The appointment is valued at $1.4 million over seven years, and recognizes Jayas’ world-class reputation in his field.
Jayas has been the driving force behind a research program in grain storage
and in the preservation, storage and transport of food, which has resulted in
the recent construction of a state-of-the-art research facility on the University
of Manitoba campus. He is a leader in carrying out interdisciplinary research,
bringing together the work of entomologists, agricultural engineers and mathematicians
in the study of stored grain. His research has also made important contributions
to the potential use of digital image processing for classification among different
types of grains and foreign materials in grains and for automation of grain
handling in terminal elevators.
As Canada Research Chair in Grain Storage, Jayas will pursue a program with
three main objectives: reduce losses in stored grains to help maintain Canada’s
reputation for high-quality products for domestic use and export; develop ecosystem
models to help explain the causes of grain deterioration; and develop innovative
techniques such as machine vision for monitoring grain quality.
Jayas also currently serves as the associate vice-president (research) at the
University of Manitoba. His excellence in research and teaching has been recognized
with numerous national and international awards.
The primary objective of the Canada Research Chairs program is to enable Canadian
universities, together with their affiliated research institutes and hospitals,
to achieve the highest levels of research excellence and to become world-class
research canters in the global, knowledge- based economy.
For more information call:
Dr. Digvir Jayas
Associate Vice-President (Research)
University of Manitoba
Dr. Rachael Scarth
Associate Dean (Research)
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
University of Manitoba