Richard Keith Downey, (born January 26, 1927) is a Canadian agricultural scientist and, as one of the originators of canola, became known as the "Father of Canola".
Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, In 1951 he received a B.S.A. and in 1952 a M.Sc. from the University of Saskatchewan. He received his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1961. In 1951 he started working for Agriculture Canada, becoming in 1993 a Senior Research Scientist Emeritus. In 1993, he started his own firm and is President of Canoglobe Consulting Inc.
He worked with Baldur Stefansson to develop a variety of rapeseed that could be used as an edible oil. This is known as canola and is one of Canada’s top edible oils and one of the largest oilseed crops in the world. He is the breeder and co-breeder of 13 rapeseed/canola varieties and five condiment mustard varieties.
In 1998, "Downey Street" at a research and development park in Saskatoon was named in his honour.
1963 Bond Gold Medal, American Oil Chemists’ Society
1968 Public Service Merit Award, Government of Canada
1971 Honorary Life Membership Canadian Seed Growers’ Association
1973 Grindley Medal, Agriculture Institute of Canada
1975 Honorary Life Membership Saskatchewan Rapeseed Growers’ Association
1975 Royal Bank Award, Royal Bank
1976 Officer, Order of Canada
1976 Fellow, Agriculture Institute of Canada
1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
1979 Fellow Royal Society of Canada
1982 Century Saskatoon Award, City of Saskatoon
1986 Distinguished Graduate Award, University of Saskatchewan, College of Agriculture
1990 Gold Medal, co-recipient, Professional Institute of Canada
1992 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
1994 Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Saskatchewan
1994 Clark-Newman Award, Canadian Seed Growers Association
1995 J. Mcansh Award, Canola Council of Canada
1995 Eminent Scientist Award / Groupe Consultatif International de Recherche sur le Colza
1995 Médaille Chevreul / Association Francaise pour l’Etude des Corps Gras, France
1996 Hall of Fame, Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame
1997 Honorary Doctorate of Law University of Lethbridge
1997 Recognition Award, Canadian Seed Trade Association
2000 Honorary Life Membership Saskatchewan Agriculture Graduates Association
2002 Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame
2002 Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
2017 Canola Influencer Award, SaskCanola
