Donald Young Invested in Order of Canada

In recognition of his contribution to agriculture, Donald Young of Fredericton, New Brunswick, was invested in the Order of Canada June 18.

The agrologist led the development and introduction of several potato varieties including Shepody that had a major impact on North American production and garnered international acclaim in the french fry industry.

Dr. Young was class president when he graduated from Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 1950. He received his B.Sc. (Ag) two years later at Macdonald College and went on to the University of Wisconsin for his Masters and Ph.D.

When he joined the Agriculture Canada Research Station in Fredericton in 1957 he became a member of the Potato Breeding Program. A decade later he led the program. Over the years he built up a distinguished multi-disciplined team of research scientists and established the Benton Ridge Potato Breeding Facility.

Dr. Young’s work on internal texture in french fry potatoes began in the early 1960s and in 1980 the Shepody variety was released. It is now commercially produced in numerous countries around the world.

In 1978, he led a joint International Potato Centre—Fredericton Potato Breeding Program research project that predicted the response of cultivars in untested environments. Trials were conducted in 12 different countries.

In 1984-85, he worked in Bangladesh for the Canadian International Development Agency developing the potato section of a four-crop $50-million Crop Diversification Program.

Dr. Young’s career changed direction in 1986 when he retired from Agriculture Canada. From 1986-1990 he was the NB Department of Agriculture’s Technical Director in the Heilongjiang province of the People’s Republic of China for the Keshan Potato Research Institute Project.

Before retiring, Dr. Young left the department and went on to work with McCain Foods Limited developing research programs and training staff in numerous countries.