Dr. Curtis Pozniak was presented the Bertebos Prize by the King of Sweden during a special ceremony in Stockholm on Wednesday.

It is only the second time that the prestigious honour was awarded to a Canadian. The Bertebos Prize, which is presented every second year, recognizes contributions to the interface between ecology and food production.

Dr. Pozniak is a well-known wheat and durum breeder who played an important role on the international team that cracked the complex wheat genome. He was also involved in the release of more than 20 wheat varieties grown on the Prairies.

In a USask news release, Dr Pozniak said “there is nothing more rewarding as a scientist than to be recognized for you achievements,” adding he was both “excited” and “humbled” to be selected.

In addition to being the Director of the USask Crop Development Centre, Dr. Pozniak is also a professor in USask’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources, as well as the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program Chair in Durum and High-Yield Wheat Breeding and Genetics.