CCA Appoints Expert Panel on Plant Health Risks

The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) has assembled a distinguished panel to examine current and emerging risks to plant health, gaps and strengths in Canada’s capacity to manage them, and leading risk management practices. The Expert Panel will be chaired by Deborah Buszard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UBC’s Okanagan campus.

“Plant health is critical to food security, environmental sustainability, and public health,” said Prof. Buszard. “I look forward to tackling this important and cross-cutting issue with my colleagues.”

As Chair, Prof. Buszard will lead a multidisciplinary group with extensive expertise, experience, and leadership in agricultural and crop science, forestry, economics, climate change, sociology, industrial practices, and public policy. The Panel will answer the following question:

What are the most significant current and emerging risks to plant health in Canada?

“It’s fitting that this assessment came to us during the International Year of Plant Health,” said Eric M. Meslin, PhD, FCAHS, President and CEO of the CCA. “We anticipate delivering a comprehensive report that will help to inform effective approaches to protecting these resources that our people, communities, and industries depend on.”

The CCA was asked by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to undertake this project. More information can be found here.

The Expert Panel on Plant Health Risks:

Deborah Buszard, (Chair) Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus

Kyle Bobiwash, Assistant Professor, Indigenous Scholar, Entomology, University of Manitoba

Sophia Boivin, Coordinator – crop protection laws and emergencies, Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Kelly Bronson, Assistant Professor, School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa

Anita Brûlé-Babel, Professor, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba

Kate Congreves, Assistant Professor, University of Saskatchewan

Rory Degenhardt, Integrated Field Sciences Research Leader, Canada, Corteva Agriscience

Alanna Koch, Chair, Board of Directors, Global Institute for Food Security

Christian Messier, FRSC, Professor, Université de Quebec en Outaouais

Harry Nelson, Associate Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia

Peter W.B. Phillips, Distinguished Professor, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan

M. A. (Peggy) Smith, Professor Emeritus, Centre for Excellence or Sustainable Mining & Exploration of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University

Clarence Swanton, Professor Emeritus, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph

Danielle Way, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Western University