New director for Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada

Dr. Andy Hammermeister has been appointed Director of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (www.oacc.info). Dr. Hammermeister has worked with OACC since 2002, most recently as manager of the Centre and the Canadian Organic Science Cluster research program.

“The past ten years have been a very interesting time for the growth and development of Canada’s organic sector,” said Dr. Andy Hammermeister. “I’m very excited to be part of it and look forward to leading OACC in ongoing collaboration with industry, university and AAFC* partners. The spirit of collaboration is unprecedented and we will see significant advances in
organic science in the coming years.”

Dr. Hammermeister grew up on a mixed beef and grain farm in southeast Saskatchewan. He has a Bachelors degree in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan, a Masters degree in Land Reclamation and a PhD in Applied Ecology from the University of Alberta. He came to the Nova Scotia Agricultural College as a research associate in 2002 and took on the role of Soil and Crops Professor in late 2007. He conducts research on crop rotations, soil amendments, pesticide risk reduction in soybean and more. Dr. Hammermeister is currently working toward identifying and addressing organic research priorities across Canada, linking the needs of producers with researchers and funding agencies.

Founding Director, Dr. Ralph Martin, announced his pending retirement from NSAC after ten years of leading OACC and 20 years as an NSAC faculty member. We wish Ralph well in his future endeavors in Ontario.

As the only institution of its kind in Canada, the OACC plays a leading role in organic research and education and is located on the campus of Nova Scotia Agricultural College.

Further information

Contact

Andy Hammermeister, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC), Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada

Related Links

• OrganicagCentre.ca: Organic Friends' E-Zine: March 2011
• OrganicagCentre.ca: Canada's Organic Science Cluster
• Organic World.net: Canada

Note

* Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (www4.agr.gc.ca) provides information, research and technology, and policies and programs to achieve an environmentally sustainable agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, a competitive agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector that proactively manages risk, and an innovative agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. AAFC, along with its portfolio partners, reports to Parliament and Canadians through the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.