Richard Keith Downey, O.C., Ph.D., D.Sc., LL.D., F.A.I.C., F.R.S.C., (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 oil 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.

Honours

• 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’s 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 Commemorative Medal for 125th Anniversary of Canada
• 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 Agriculture Hall of Fame
• 2002 Queen’s Jubilee Medal