When Simranjit Singh was on his grandparents' farm in India as a boy, it was very unlikely that he imagined his life would take him 12,000 kilometres away to Canada. In India, Simranjit completed his secondary education and then decided to work on sea-faring freight liners that transported goods across the Middle East. After acquiring new life experiences and well-earned lessons in hard work, he returned home and realized his aspirations for higher education. After talking with friends and family and researching his options, Simranjit set his sights on a career in plant genetics

Five years after his arrival in Canada, Simranjit graduated University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and now is a part of the international breeding programs at Dow AgroSciences. Using state-of-the-art genetic technology, he works in the company’s test fields and nurseries to better understand how different crop varieties from around the world may help to increase yields, resist stress and combat disease. Their ultimate goal is to reduce input costs for farmers in temperate climates.

An enviable blend of city living with plenty of time in the rural fields suits Simranjit’s lifestyle. This new lifestyle was possible for Simranjit because Canada leads the world in research and development of agricultural sciences, which attracts people from around the world who want to excel at the highest level, and will continue to be a growth industry for decades to come.