Vernon Burrows

Burrows was born in 1930 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Inspired by his grandfather, Burrows decided to pursue a career in plant science.[4][5][6]

Burrows obtained a BSA from the University of Manitoba in 1951, an MSc from the University of Manitoba in 1953, and a PhD from the California Institute of Technology in 1958.[5][7] In 1958, he began working as a plant physiologist at what was then Agriculture Canada, now Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC), in the Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre in Ottawa.[8] He became an oat breeder in 1969, developing and licensing many varieties of oats. Of note is the variety Foothill, Canada's first dual-purpose grain and forage oat; Hinoat, the first high-protein oat released for human consumption; and Donald, the first variety that can grow during shorter day lengths.[8]

In 1985 Burrows released Tibor, a variety of hulless oat that was also highly nutritious. The lack of a hull on the grain means the oats take up less space and are therefore more efficient and less expensive to store and transport. Tibor had high potential of being a nutritious feed for poultry and swine. Its energy content was similar to corn and its protein content was high enough to reduce greatly or eliminate the need for a supplemental soybean meal.[8][9]

After more than 15 years of intensive research and breeding, Burrows and his team developed and registered AC Gehl, the first truly hulless and hairless oat variety in the world.[10] Earlier hulless varieties were still covered with tiny hairs called trichomes that blow off during threshing and handling, creating respiratory problems and skin irritation for workers.[11][3][12] AC Gehl is therefore easier to process, and its natural waxy coating protects the crop in the field and during storage. AC Gehl grows well under many conditions and the oat is highly nutritious.[3]

Over the years, Burrows made many contributions to the oat scientific literature and to the development of genetic stocks for specific traits.[7]

In addition to his accomplished research career, Burrows was also adjunct professor, McGill University, Montreal, where has served with distinction for many years on a variety of Canadian Expert Committees responsible for improving oats for food, animal feed, and industrial uses.[13][14]

Burrows retired in 1997 but remained active in research at AAFC and in volunteer work to promote oats, particularly hulless varieties.[15][5][7][4] He died peacefully in hospital on November 8, 2020.[16]

Burrows bred and registered 28 varieties of oat, combining as many favourable traits as possible and developing oats that meet specific industry and nutritional needs.[4][7]

• 1975 Grindley Medal, Agricultural Institute of Canada[13]
• 1994 Distinguished Service Oat Improvement Award, American Oat Workers Conference[7]
• 1986 Honorary Life Member, Canadian Seed Growers Association[7]
• 1997 Appointed Research Scientist Emeritus by the Minister of Agriculture
• 2000 AAFC Agcellence Award in the Innovation category[13]
• 2001 Member of the Professional Advisory Board, Canadian Celiac Association[27]
• 2001 Member of the Order of Canada[1][13]
• 2002 Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada[28]
• 2003 Chinese Friendship Award for volunteer service directed to the improvement of oats in China[18][13]
• 2007 Award of Excellence for Voluntarism, Canadian Agri-Food Award of Excellence[29]
• 2010 AAFC Research Branch Science Achievement Award, Outstanding Accomplishments in the Field of Oat Utilization
• 2014 International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award of the People's Republic of China[23]
• 2015 Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame[7][30]
• 2016 Canadian Celiac Association - Life Member - For leading the process to bring gluten-free oats to market for people with celiac disease.
• 2018 Officer of the Order of Canada[1]