From the latest .
How can we make our food supply safer? Is eating local the best option? As our climate changes, how can farmers adapt to shifting weather conditions? How can Atlantic Canadian food producers gain a competitive edge in improving their crops and agri-food products? And, on a planet that produces more than enough food to feed us all, why do a billion people still go hungry?
The questions range from micro to macro, from local to global, but all centre on agriculture.
鈥淚n the coming century, there will be no bigger issue on the planet than food,鈥� says Richard Donald, vice-president of research, extension and outreach at Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC). 鈥淚t is as important or more important than energy.鈥�
Which makes the timing of a merger between NSAC and AV俱乐部, announced earlier this spring, auspicious. The merger, which will see NSAC in Truro-Bible Hill become a faculty within AV俱乐部 while maintaining its distinct campus, is effective September 1.
A history of collaboration
鈥淲e鈥檙e building on a history of collaboration,鈥� says Susan Spence Wach, associate vice-president academic at AV俱乐部 and leader of the merger transition team. Prior to the merger, NSAC was part of the government of Nova Scotia鈥檚 Department of Agriculture, but NSAC鈥檚 degrees were conferred through AV俱乐部 and researchers at the two institutions have a history of collaboration.
鈥淎t a time when agricultural issues have a renewed prominence globally, to have an agricultural discipline as part of a comprehensive research university like AV俱乐部 is very valuable,鈥� adds Ms. Spence Wach.
The merger benefits both partners, as well as students, faculty and the broader community says Harold Cook, inaugural dean of agriculture and campus principal for the Faculty of Agriculture post merger.
鈥淥ne major outcome is the enhanced environment for innovation in educational options and opportunities, as well as for research and improved agricultural delivery,鈥� says Dr. Cook, a graduate of NSAC and a former dean of AV俱乐部鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine. 鈥淎ll are enhanced by the pooling of the talents at both institutions. There is strength in numbers and in combined research.鈥�
Practical benefits
So what does that mean in practical terms?
For students, the merger could mean greater flexibility in course options and possible expansion of course offerings at the Truro-Bible Hill campus. For faculty, operating under one umbrella will bring improved opportunities for collaborative research and funding, with fewer administrative barriers. And for Atlantic Canadian agricultural producers and agri-food businesses, there will be new opportunities to tap into the combined resources of the two institutions.
For instance, the agriculture expertise at NSAC combined with the food sciences and engineering expertise at AV俱乐部 could allow for more comprehensive consideration of the challenges that Nova Scotia fruit growers and wineries face, says Ms. Spence Wach. 鈥淭ogether, we hope to be even more responsive to local agricultural needs than we have been individually.鈥�
That kind of industry-based research is a particular strength of the NSAC team, says Dr. Donald.
鈥淲hile NSAC represents about 10 per cent of the research funding that Dal does, what that number doesn鈥檛 tell you is that we have much greater success proportionally in industry-funded research. There is an opportunity for us to be a leader within Dal on this kind of partnership, and I think that鈥檚 something significant that we bring to the table.鈥�
At the same time, Dr. Donald points to AV俱乐部鈥檚 success in managing international collaborations and large international research clusters as an opportunity for building on NSAC鈥檚 existing efforts in international research.
Addressing global problems
But the synergies aren鈥檛 limited to the hard sciences, says Dr. Donald.
鈥淚f you look at the problems we face and will face in agriculture and food, they involve social science aspects as well: global trade, access to trade, development of markets and legal, business and social issues,鈥� he says. 鈥淎ll are areas where AV俱乐部 can add to our understanding.鈥�
Ms. Spence Wach agrees. 鈥淭he kinds of complex and multi-faceted agricultural issues that we face 鈥� at the community, national and global levels 鈥� need multi-disciplinary expertise to address them, and the merger positions us to do that,鈥� she says.