Kari Dunfield is Canada's Research Chair in Environmental Microbiology of Agro-ecosystems and one of Canada's premier scientists working at the intersection of microbiology, ecology and soil science.
The global population is expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050, and agricultural systems are projected to expand their contribution to food, fuel, feed and fibre production. However, intensive agriculture can cause major environmental challenges, through greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution.
Understanding the role of soil microorganisms is crucial to ensure we can sustainably produce enough food to feed a growing population. Dr. Dunfield’s use of cutting-edge molecular techniques to investigate challenging issues related to agricultural practices, environmental change and soil biodiversity have propelled her work to the forefront of her field.
Her goal is to improve our understanding of soil ecosystem services in order to promote the development of sustainable farming practices that protect the environment while meeting the increasing requirements for food, feed and biofuels.
Canada's Research Chair in Environmental Microbiology of Agro-ecosystems