Four postdoctoral research fellows joined the AV俱乐部 Faculty of Agriculture this year to tackle diverse topics in sustainable agriculture thanks to a visionary gift from the . The new fellows are the first to be recruited to AV俱乐部 as McCain Foundation Postdoctoral Fellows in Sustainable Agriculture.
The McCain Foundation鈥檚 commitment of $1.5 million over five years will fund 12 or more postdoctoral fellowships. The competitive fellowships aim to attract the best and brightest agriculture and sustainability researchers from around the world to the Faculty of Agriculture, where they will contribute valuable research and innovative ideas to AV俱乐部, the local agricultural community and beyond.
Agriculture is an integral part of the fabric of Atlantic Canada and a key factor in global sustainability. The addition of several postdoctoral fellows at AV俱乐部 will significantly strengthen sustainable agriculture research in the region and help researchers and producers align their work with United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. David Gray, dean of Agriculture, says the timing of the McCain Foundation gift is critical.
鈥淭he world is reaching a tipping point in terms of climate change 鈥� we only have 38 harvests left, or until 2050 when the world鈥檚 population reaches nearly 10 billion, to find the solutions necessary to produce food in a sustainable way and feed our ever-growing population,鈥� says Dean Gray.
Dean Gray notes that agriculture is the biggest user of land and fresh water on the planet. 鈥淭he answers to our climate change and food insecurity issues are steeped in agriculture. There is no other industry on the planet that is more poised to solve these issues than agriculture. We鈥檙e very grateful to the McCain Foundation for generously investing in research in this way and working with us to build a better future here and around the world for generations to come.鈥�
Recommended reading: Learn how students like and are working to improve food security and sustainability through unique programs like AV俱乐部 Agriculture鈥檚 Cultiv8 sandbox.
The power of the postdoc
According to Dr. Chris Cutler, associate dean of research in the Faculty of Agriculture, postdoctoral fellows are a crucial addition to university research programs because they bring very strong research skill sets, have innovative ideas, and can teach and mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
鈥淧ostdocs come to us ready to lead groundbreaking research right now,鈥� says Dr. Cutler. 鈥淓stablishing a competitive, prestigious postdoctoral program like this will attract the highest calibre talent, while also playing a significant and long-lasting role in building research programs and sustainable practices for the future. We are recruiting the next leaders in agricultural research.鈥�
Attracting top researchers to the region with the potential to make an immediate and meaningful impact resonated strongly with the McCain Foundation.
鈥淭he McCain Foundation aims to improve lives, especially in rural communities where many McCain employees live and work,鈥� says Linda McCain (BComm鈥�75), Chair of the McCain Foundation. 鈥淲e could clearly envision how supporting research fellowships could not only advance the long-term sustainable agriculture goals we share with AV俱乐部, but also benefit rural communities in Atlantic Canada and beyond in the more immediate future. We鈥檙e thrilled to see the impressive projects the inaugural McCain Postdoctoral Fellows have started already鈥攚e know they will make a real difference.鈥�
From soil and pests to social sustainability
The 2022-2024 McCain Foundation Postdoctoral Fellows in Sustainable Agriculture are up and running with their research programs in a broad range of topics:
- Kingsley John鈥檚 research in soil carbon and health will help improve data-driven decision making to promote food security and environmental preservation.
- Monika Korzun鈥檚 research will assess social sustainability in the agri-food industry, advancing understanding of sustainable agriculture and its affects on broader society.
- Rachel Rix鈥檚 (MSc鈥�17, PhD鈥�22) research on wireworms will help reduce environmental impacts and improve overall sustainability of the potato industry.
- Weixi Shu鈥檚 (MSc鈥�14, PhD鈥�22) research in agricultural and forestry soils will focus on developing models of carbon nitrogen, and contaminant cycling and transport in soil and water.
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鈥淢cCain Foods and the McCain Foundation are committed to giving back to our community and creating programs that can help sustainable farming practices here and around the world,鈥� says Dr. Yves Leclerc, Director of Agronomy, North America, McCain Foods. 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to support these bright researchers as well as those who will follow in the next five years, and we eagerly anticipate the important work they will do. It will be very exciting to see the fruits this partnership with AV俱乐部 will yield.鈥�
鈥淚 can think of nothing more rewarding and fulfilling than to use my research to support my Maritime community and the people who work every day to improve environmental sustainability and food security,鈥� adds Dr. Rix.
For more information on the McCain Postdoctoral Fellowship program, please contact chris.cutler@dal.ca or lisa.doucette@dal.ca.