Research excellence at NSAC was awarded Friday with the five-year renewal of a Canada Research Chair at the Bible Hill university.

(Bible Hill, NS) - Dr. Derek Lynch, Canada Research Chair in Organic Agriculture, received a five-year renewal of his Tier 2 Chair position valued at $100,000 annually for the duration of the term. Tier 2 Chair positions are tenable for five years and renewable once and are intended for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. A $150,000 Canada Foundation for Innovation infrastructure component was also awarded. 

"NSAC is proud to be part of the Canada Research Chairs program and in particular of Dr. Lynch and his leading-edge research," said Dr. Richard Donald, NSAC VP Research, Extension and Outreach. "The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada is a key component of NSAC's research program and contributes greatly to our ability to support, healthy, sustainable communities." 

Dr. Lynch's research involves developing innovative crop and soil management practices to address the challenges to sustained growth of organic agriculture in Canada. "This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Canada Research Chairs program," said Dr. Chad Gaffield, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and head of the Canada Research Chairs program steering committee. "For the past decade, the program has been integral in funding research excellence in Canada by recruiting and retaining renowned international experts at Canadian universities. The program enables our universities to create the necessary environment for groundbreaking research and to offer first-class learning and training experiences to graduate students, thereby preparing them to become the next generation of world-class leaders in all sectors of society." 

In his present research, Lynch is continuing his work on crop and soil management practices that can help the growth of organic agriculture in Canada. 

"Canadian organic farmers are at the forefront of efforts to develop agricultural production systems that are efficient and have a low environmental impact" said Dr. Lynch. "Working with them to further understand and improve these systems offers wonderful opportunities for fundamental and applied research and I look forward to continuing to expand our research and training in this area at NSAC." 

NSAC holds four prestigious Canada Research Chairs; two in agricultural biotechnology and organic agriculture, one in agriculture resource management and the fourth currently underway in agricultural bio-products. 

NSAC is a specialized university that cultivates learning and research, focusing on improving and sustaining our environment for the health and well-being of society.