Dr. Kate Congreves (PhD) has been appointed the Jarislowsky and BMO Chair in Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) to lead research supporting the wider-scale adoption of beneficial production and environmental practices necessary for food security.
“As the new chair, Dr. Congreves will strengthen Canada’s agriculture sector by providing leadership in regenerative agriculture, working with producers to identify and evaluate best practices, and creating new teaching and mentoring opportunities for students,” said Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn (PhD), dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at USask. “This investment in USask research means new potential to maximize environmental benefits of agricultural systems and minimize environmental impacts, all while maintaining and increasing food production.”
The Jarislowsky and BMO Chair in Regenerative Agriculture was established by a $4 million endowment with a donation of $2 million from the Jarislowsky Foundation, $1 million from BMO, and $1M from the USask Greystone Heritage Trust to significantly expand research capacity in regenerative agriculture at USask.
“Building a more sustainable future has been a long-standing priority for the Jarislowsky Foundation,” said Stephen Jarislowsky, founder and president of the foundation. “The research led by Dr. Congreves and her team will make an impact on agriculture, climate, and food production through advancing the science and encouraging the adoption of sustainable farming practices across Canada and beyond.”
The Jarislowsky Foundation supports research chairs to promote excellence in teaching, mentoring and research.
“At BMO, we are long-time supporters of the agricultural sector and proud of our clients, who are among the most innovative producers in the world in regenerative agriculture,” said Allison Hakomaki, head of Agriculture, Public Sector and Emerging Industries, BMO. “We know how vital sustainable practices are to the resilience of our farmers and the future of food in Canada and, driven by our purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life and our commitment to a sustainable future, we recognize the importance of supporting initiatives like the University of Saskatchewan’s research in this field.”
During the chair’s five-year term, Congreves’ research will inform sustainable nitrogen (N) management for healthy agroecosystems. Nitrogen is simultaneously an essential nutrient for crop production and a major environmental concern. Better understanding of N cycling is necessary and is a timely priority with policymakers interested in developing strategies to better manage N. Congreves will explore interdisciplinary collaborations with agricultural researchers in other areas of expertise such as water, livestock and health, and with social scientists, economists, and philosophers to develop evidence-based recommendations that will be pertinent to Canada’s progress towards a sustainable future.
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