Stanford Blade
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Dr. Stan Blade currently serves as the Deputy Director General (Research) for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) which is is a research organization that is part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (www.cgiar.org).
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[edit] Early life and education
Dr. Blade was born in Alberta, Canada where he was raised on a dairy and grain farm. He attended the University of Alberta for his first degree (B.Sc.) in genetics. He obtained his M.Sc. (Crop Science) from the University of Saskatchewan for a breeding/physiology study on wheat. Dr. Blade’s doctorate was awarded by McGill University (Montreal, Canada) for work done at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on a Canadian International Development Agency Ph.D. Scholarship. The thesis topic was a plant breeding/farming systems approach to improving an indigenous grain legume (Vigna unguiculata L.) for use within the complex cereal-legume cropping systems of the West African savanna.
[edit] Career
Dr. Blade has served in a number of leadership roles in Canada, such as the Director of the Crop Division of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD), and Research Director of the Alberta Barley Commission. Dr. Blade provided direction for 200 staff people and four major research centers, as well as working with universities and the private sector to develop innovative technologies. Dr. Blade has also worked in the private sector as Research Director for the Alberta Barley Commission.
Stan has had significant success with resource mobilization, including a $35 million allocation by the Government of Alberta to be used by a consortium of research organizations to deliver on the vision of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Alberta. Stan served as the AAFRD leader on the initiative. Stan has also played a role in the sourcing of approximately $20 million for his various research groups over the past ten years.
[edit] Research
Dr. Blade’s own research successes have included the development and release of the high-performing Cutlass field pea. Dr. Blade has participated in the release of several field pea, lentil, cowpea and fenugreek lines. In addition, his research activities in crop diversification, such as his pioneering work on several new crops (low-THC hemp, medicinal plants, industrial crops, grain legumes) has created demand for Dr. Blade to serve as a global consultant and speaker. Dr. Blade has been invited to speak on crop diversification across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Scotland, Germany, Poland, Sri Lanka, Australia, Libya and several other countries.
[edit] Publications
Dr. Blade has published 60+ research articles, ten book chapters, 120+ conference abstracts and has edited four books. He has been the winner of several awards from the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America. Dr. Blade is a member of several professional societies and international committees, as well as serving on the editorial boards of journals such as Agriculture, Environment and Ecosystems.
Dr. Blade has served as an elected member of the University of Alberta Senate, and participated as a senior judge at both the Canadian and Alberta Science Fairs.
