Acharya, Surya, Ph.D., FICN

Research Scientist, Forage Breeder

Contact Information:

5403 - 1 Avenue South
PO Box 3000
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1
Telephone: 403-317-2277
Fax: 403-382-3156
Email: surya.acharya@agr.gc.ca

Areas of Expertise:

  • orchard grass
  • forage crops
  • legumes
  • alfalfa
  • other legumes *
  • grasses
  • other grasses *

Current Projects:

  • Develop new cultivars of alfalfa with improved productivity, adaptation and persistence through selection for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance.
  • Develop new cultivars of cicer milkvetch with improved seedling vigor for easier establishment.
  • Develop new cultivars of orchardgrass with improved persistence, productivity and nutritional quality through selection for stress tolerance (winter survival, disease resistance), forage yield and digestibility.
  • Participate in regional forage trials through running trials and coordination as required.
  • Develop non-traditional high quality forage crops with distinct advantages for livestock production.
  • Emerging giant wild rye cultivars and associated technology for improved production efficiency and alternative use
  • Conservation, regeneration and evaluation giant wild rye.

Affiliations:

  • Adjunct Professor University of Alberta
  • Adjunct Professor University of Lethbridge
  • President International College of Nutrition
  • Guest Professor China Agriculture University

Research Publications:

The links below lead to abstracts with access to full text.

2012:

2011:

2010:

2009:

Other Science Related Publications:

2011:

  • Acharya, S.N., Iwaasa, A.D., Coulman, B., Jefferson, P.G., McAllister, T.A., and Wang, Y. (2011). "New sainfoin keeps pace with alfalfa for safe grazing.", Plant Canada 2011, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada, July 17-21, 2011.
  • Acharya, S.N., Iwaasa, A.D., McAllister, T.A., Wang, Y., and Thomas, J. (2011). "Animal performance and incidence of bloat in mixed alfalfa/sainfoin grazing.", Plant Canada 2011, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada, July 17-21, 2011.
  • Iwaasa, A.D., Steppuhn, H., Schellenberg, M.P., Acharya, S.N., and Wang, Y. (2011). "A forage and grazing research update.", SWFA Annual General Meeting, Swift Current, SK, Canada, March 1, 2011.

2009:

  • Acharya, S.N. (2009). "Advances in forage breeding with special emphasis on sainfoin improvement.", Saskatchewan Advisory Committee on Forage Crops meeting, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, 2009. (Presentation)
  • Acharya, S.N. (2009). "Biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass in western Canada.", Cellulosic Biofuel Network (CBN) Meeting 2009, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada, January 22, 2009. (Abstract)
  • Acharya, S.N. (2009). "Forage breeding at Lethbridge Research Centre.", Grazing and Forage Field Day, Swift Current Centre, Swift Current, SK, Canada, June 29, 2009.
  • Acharya, S.N. (2009). "Use of native plants for desertification control in China.", Invited talk, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China, 2009. (Presentation)
  • Acharya, S.N. (2009). "Use of perennial grasses and legumes for desertification control.", Invited talk, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China, 2009. (Presentation)
  • Acharya, S.N. (2009). "Use of perennial grasses and legumes for desertification control.", Invited talk, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China, 2009. (Presentation)
  • Acharya, S.N. and Goyal, A. (2009). "Advances in medicinal plant research: where should the emphasis be in future?.", 14th World Congress on Clinical Nutrition (WCCN) and 5th International Congress on Cardiovascular Diseases (ICCD), Doubletree by Hilton Košice Hotel, Košice, Slovakia, June 4-7, 2009. (Abstract)
  • Acharya, S.N., Basu, S.K., Acharya, K., Paul, S., and Datta Banik, S. (2009). "International collaboration on identifying and enhancing the functional food and nutraceutical properties of an annual forage legume fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).", 14th World Congress on Clinical Nutrition (WCCN) and 5th International Congress on Cardiovascular Diseases (ICCD), Doubletree by Hilton Košice Hotel, Košice, Slovakia, June 4-7, 2009. (Abstract)
  • Acharya, S.N., Huang, H.-C., Basu, S.K., Entz, T., Erickson, R.S., and Friebel, D.R. (2009). "Finding Best Practices for Growing Alfalfa In the Northern Plains.", Crops & Soils Magazine, Continuing Education(Winter 2009), pp. 14-16.
  • Prasad, R., Basu, S.K., Acharya, S.N., Cárcamo, H.A., and Thomas, J.E. (2009). "Potential insect pests of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).", 3rd Annual Graduate Students’ Association Multidisciplinary Graduate Research Conference, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, March 14, 2009, pp. P6:21. (Abstract)
  • Prasad, R., Basu, S.K., Acharya, S.N., Thomas, J.E., and Friebel, D.R. (2009). "Cercospora leaf spot and Powdery mildew: two major diseases of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).", 43rd Annual Prairie Universities Biological Symposium (PUBS 2009), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, February 19-21, 2009, pp. 51. (Abstract)
  • Thomas, J.E., Bandara, M.S., Acharya, S.N., Driedger, D., Lynn Lee, E., Basu, S.K., and Prasad, R. (2009). "Refining ideas on selection of complex traits in plants.", 5th International Symposium of Biocatalysis and Biotechnology (ISBB), National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, November 18-20, 2009. (Abstract)