Evidence for Organics ft. the COG Data Task-force
Join us to explore the latest research on the environmental and economic impacts of organic crop production from COG’s Organic Task Force. This session will present key findings and policy recommendations from the Task Force’s research, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A on how this evidence can shape policy, strengthen organic agriculture, and meet the needs of farmers, policymakers, and the public. Discover how data-driven insights can drive meaningful change in Canada’s organic sector.
Dr. Aaron De Laporte, Senior Research Associate, Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Guelph
Aaron’s research program examines the environmental and economic tradeoffs of innovative agricultural practice adoption using spatial bioeconomic and transportation modelling. He has examined a variety of practices throughout Canada and the United States, including wetland management, bioenergy, and genomics. His current research focuses on beneficial management practices, like 4R nitrogen management, precision agriculture, and cover crops, along with organic production.
Dr. Andrew Hammermeister, Director, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Associate Professor, Dalhousie University
Dr. Andrew Hammermeister is the Director of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada. The OACC is the leading national facilitator of organic science and communication in Canada. Andrew is the Science Director for the Organic Science Cluster, the coordinated national initiative for organic research in Canada. He sits on the national organic standards review committee, the Sustainability Sector Engagement Table (AAFC-Industry co-led) and several other organic sector committees both nationally and internationally. Andrew is the coordinator and student advisor as well as a course instructor for the Certificate of Specialization in Organic Agriculture offered by Dalhousie University. Andrew received his B.Sc. in Agriculture specializing in Soil Science from the University of Saskatchewan, and his M.Sc. in Land Reclamation and Ph.D. in Applied Ecology both from the University of Alberta. Visit www.dal.ca/oacc for more information.
Dr. Ralph Martin, Professor (Ret'd), University of Guelph
Ralph C. Martin grew up on his family farm in Wallenstein, ON. After 4-H, his formal education includes a B.A. and an M.Sc. in Biology from Carleton University and a Ph.D. in Plant Science from McGill University. His research and teaching began at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, in 1990, when he realized students teach him too. In 2001, he founded the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada to coordinate university research and education pertaining to organic systems, across Canada. In 2011, he was appointed as Professor and the Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production at the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph. In 2019, he retired and published his book, Food Security. More info at www.ralphmartin.ca
Shenali Madhanaroopan, Corporate Impact Analyst, Riverside Natural Foods
Shenali Madhanaroopan is the Corporate Impact Analyst at Riverside Natural Foods, home of the organic snack brand, MadeGood. Shenali holds a Master of Environmental Studies (MES) in Sustainability Management from the University of Waterloo. She specializes in analytical research and comprehensive life cycle modeling of organic production systems and value chains. Shenali was a keynote speaker at the Canada Organic Trade Association Organic Summit (2020), and has spoken at LCAFoods (2022), the Organic Council of Ontario’s Guelph Organic Conference (2023), and other fora. As a member of the Organic Task Force, Shenali advocates for rigorous research and data analysis to highlight the benefits of organic agriculture. Shenali’s passion lies in bridging the organic research and data gap in Canada, enhancing organic visibility and accessibility in retail, and educating individuals on the true nature and significance of organic practices.
