Food security and ensuring a resilient food system is one of the leading challenges of our time. Two Trent researchers have helped bring the University into the national agricultural spotlight by contributing to FarmFood360°, an award-winning virtual platform that offers Canadians a behind-the-scenes look at how and where their food is produced.

Dr. Ainsely Lewis, a post-doctoral fellow in the Emery Lab, and Daniel Palberg, an Environmental and Life Sciences Ph.D. candidate, are featured in an educational video on how plant genomics have helped counteract issues such as extreme cold, drought, and other natural disasters to ensure a steady food supply for Canadians.

“Trent is already a big player in the sustainable agricultural field but this video highlights our expertise in the broader picture of food security in the Canadian context,” says Dr. Lewis.  

Researchers collaborate on biofertilizer project

Both researchers are conducting their work in the field of biofertilizer, collaborating with crop-technology company, NutriAg Ltd. Dr. Lewis’ primary research investigates how biofertilizer interacts with plant hormones to augment growth, while Daniel uses a custom-built environmental chamber on campus to simulate extreme weather and record the biofertilizer’s efficacy on plants under varying conditions.

The prestigious Trent School of the Environment is a leader in Canada for environmental research and innovation. The two researchers say their research is bolstered by Trent’s world-class analytical equipment and laboratories, such as the Water Quality Centre – the most comprehensive mass spectrometry facility in Canada. They also praise the expertise of the University’s faculty, including Dr. Neil Emery, Dr. Naomi Stock, and Dr. Anna Kisiala.

“You can have all of the instruments in the world, and all of the technical staff to ensure they’re well-functioning but having these experts in our field is what really drives our research forward,” says Daniel.