Industry mourns the Father of Lentils, Dr. Alfred Slinkard

(Atley Hamlin/RealAgriculture)

The name Alfred Slinkard often goes hand in hand with pulse production, as his lentil varieties made Canada the world’s largest exporter of lentils.

Affectionately known as the “Father of Lentils,” Slinkard passed away with his family by his side on November 24, 2022.

During his lifetime, Slinkard received multiple agricultural awards, but his most cherished were the Governor General’s Award in celebration of the nation’s table in 2010, the Order of Canada in 2020, and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award in 2022.

He founded the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and under the leadership of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Slinkard edited and published the second edition of the Pulse Production Manual — which is known as one of the best places to find pulse production information in the world.

Slinkard’s legacy will live on in the millions of Saskatchewan lentils to be seeded through the coming years.

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