The End of a Golden Age? – Getting to the (Club)root of a Devastating Disease for Canola Farmers
Innovative agricultural solutions are needed as disease wreaks havoc on Canadian canola fields
MustGrow Biologics Corp.
TSXV:MGRO; OTC:MGROF; FRA: 0C0
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH CLUBROOT?
One of the most distinct and valuable crops grown in Canada is suffering. Clubroot, a soil-borne parasitic disease, is currently the largest threat to canola production. Clubroot disease causes swelling of the root systems (into a club shape), thus killing the ability of a plant to effectively absorb nutrients and water, leading to yield loss in crops. With the spores of the disease able to live dormant in soil for up to 20 years, farmers are currently navigating the devastation of this disease with no more than management tips.
While experts are recommending ways that farmers can manage clubroot, there is no product currently available on the market to supress this devastating disease.
WHY CAN’T IT BE CONTROLLED?
Clubroot evades concrete solutions, due to its complex nature; the disease is highly transmissible through contact, while also having mobile spores and multiple pathotypes that are becoming more resilient over time. But the persistence of the spores themselves may be the most detrimental factor to canola, with an ability to live 15-20 years and also over winter in soil. While infection at a later crop stage may impact overall quality and yields for farmers, it has been shown that early infection of high spore loads can lead to 100% loss of canola crop.
ARE THERE ANY SOLUTIONS?
No effective products are currently registered for clubroot suppression in canola. While extensive equipment hygiene, 3-4-years between canola crops, and genetically modified canola varieties are currently the top recommendations made to farmers trying to stave off potential clubroot infections, they are only partially effective at solving the greater issue.
A biological, soil-active technology, like MustGrow’s TerraMGTM, capable of reducing resting spore loads has the potential to represent a significant breakthrough in sustainable clubroot management for Canadian farmers.
HOW CAN MUSTGROW HELP?
We are excited to have just recently announced the completion and results of our 2-year field trial program in the Canadian Prairies, working directly with canola production. Trial findings have demonstrated MustGrow’s TerraMGTM as being a sustainable technology capable of not only suppressing clubroot, but also promoting higher canola yields and healthier root systems under various disease pressures.
We’re working with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency to register our TerraMGTM. TerraMGTM combats clubroot through its mechanism, releasing naturally occurring isothiocyanates from mustard seed meal. Isothiocyanates are the spice in mustard and are also known to possess biofungicidal and biopesticidal activity, suppressing a range of soil-borne pathogens, including clubroot, as well as nematodes and target insects.
In the 2024 field trials, clubroot spores were more prevalent during the entire growing season, and TerraMGTM performed exceptionally well with up to 95% reductions in clubroot spores. Yield benefits to the farmers showed up to a 7 bushel/acre increase (19% increase over Canada’s 36 bushel/acre average production in 2024), translating to a $91/acre increase in value to the farmer (at approximately $13/bushel average commodity price).
The MustGrow team is witnessing transformational shifts in how food is grown and consumed. The development of safe and effective biologicals to thwart devasting agricultural diseases, nematodes and pests will be critical for future food security and environmentally-sustainable agriculture.
Sincerely,
MustGrow Biologics Corp.
Sources:
‘The clubroot of the problem is in the genes’, Government of Canada, 6 Mar 2023, Available at: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-agricultural-science/scientific-achievements-agriculture/clubroot-problem-genes
(Accessed: 2 Feb 2026)
‘The Word On Clubroot In Canola: Worrisome’, Ontario Grain Farmer Magazine, 1 Mar 2025, Available at: https://ontariograinfarmer.ca/2025/03/01/the-word-on-clubroot-in-canola-worrisome/
(Accessed: 2 Feb 2026)
‘3 essentials for clubroot management’, Canola Council of Canada, Available at: https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-watch/fundamentals/finding-clubroot-in-a-field-for-the-first-time-what-next/
(Accessed: 2 Feb 2026)
‘Clubroot Disease’, Canola Encyclopedia, Available at: https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/diseases/clubroot/
(Accessed: 2 Feb 2026)
Production of principal field crops, November 2024, Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/daily-quotidien/241205/dq241205b-eng.pdf?st=Jms0Crhb
(Accessed: 2 Feb 2026)
Feed Grain – Other Crops – Canola Prices 2024, Available at: https://afsc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-Canola-Price-List.pdf
(Accessed: 2 Feb 2026)