PLANT BREEDING WASN’T Dr. Habibur Rahman’s first interest. Indeed, Rahman initially thought he would get into the field of human or plant genetics. But a chance conversation with a family friend convinced Rahman to enter an agricultural university after graduating from high school, and the rest, as they say, is history. The eminent canola breeder first became interested in genetics when his high school biology teacher taught the class about the genetics behind human eye colour. “I became very interested, learning about genes and chromosomes and cells. But when I finished high school, I thought I would study botany at university where I can get specialization in plant genetics,” he says. “But my brother’s friend suggested I attend an agriculture university that has a genetics department.” Rahman attended Bangladesh Agricultural University, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with Honours in 1980 and his Master of Science in Agriculture in Genetics and Plant Breeding in 1982. He completed his Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics at Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (now known as Copenhagen University) in 1988. From January 1989 to September 2003, Rahman worked as a canola breeder/senior breeder with a Danish seed company, Danisco Seed. During this period, he developed (solely or jointly) 47 spring and winter Brassica napus canola, high-oleic and low-linolenic acid canola, and high erucic rapeseed cultivars for CANOLA BREEDER DEDICATED TO HIS CRAFT Dr. Habibur Rahman has made significant contributions to the industry. PLANT BREEDER PROFILE Over the past 15 years, Dr. Habibur Rahman has continued his mission to improve canola for Alberta and Canadian crop producers. 42 www.seed.ab.ca | Advancing Seed in Alberta