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’ Society1968 Public Service Merit Award, Government of Canada1971 Honorary Life Membership Canadian Seed Growers’ Association1973 Grindley Medal, Agriculture Institute of Canada1975 Honorary Life Membership Saskatchewan Rapeseed Growers’ Association1975 Royal Bank Award, Royal Bank1976 Officer, Order of Canada1976 Fellow, Agriculture Institute of Canada1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal1979 Fellow Royal Society of Canada1982 Century Saskatoon Award, City of Saskatoon1986 Distinguished Graduate Award, University of Saskatchewan, College of Agriculture1990 Gold Medal, co-recipient, Professional Institute of Canada1992 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal1994 Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Saskatchewan1994 Clark-Newman Award, Canadian Seed Growers Association1995 J. Mcansh Award, Canola Council of Canada1995 Eminent Scientist Award / Groupe Consultatif International de Recherche sur le Colza1995 Médaille Chevreul / Association Francaise pour l’Etude des Corps Gras, France1996 Hall of Fame, Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame1997 Honorary Doctorate of Law University of Lethbridge1997 Recognition Award, Canadian Seed Trade Association2000 Honorary Life Membership Saskatchewan Agriculture Graduates Association2002 Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame2002 Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal2017 Canola Influencer Award, SaskCanola 
