NEWS HIGHLIGHT
Team Vineland is growing
Several recent appointments have been announced by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. “These individuals bring their knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm to partnerships with our Canadian horticulture stakeholders and will help in building a stronger, more competitive industry,” says VRIC CEO Dr. Jim Brandle.
Jan. 27, 2010, Vineland, Ont. — Several recent appointments have
been announced by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. “These
individuals bring their knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm to
partnerships with our Canadian horticulture stakeholders and will help
in building a stronger, more competitive industry,” says VRIC CEO Dr.
Jim Brandle.
At its inception in 2006, Vineland
Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC) was a vision for the future. Today, the
Centre’s mandate to be an internationally recognized horticulture research and
innovation centre of excellence is being realized with a growing team of
dedicated research and innovation experts.
Building on Vineland’s core disciplines of Consumer Insights and Product
Innovations led by Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve, Applied Genomics led by Dr. Daryl
Somers, and Horticultural Production Systems led by Dr. Michael Brownbridge,
Vineland is rapidly establishing research teams that will add value to Canadian
horticulture. New appointments to Vineland include:
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Michael Kauzlaric, horticulture technology scout, is a native of the Niagara region who grew up on a tender fruit and grape operation. He has an Associate Diploma (Agr.) and a B.Sc. (Agr.) degree from the University of Guelph and will assist stakeholders in searching the world for new horticulture technologies. |
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Travis Banks, a bioinformatics researcher, joins Vineland following seven years with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. His research will focus on integrating data from high-throughput molecular technologies into breeding programs, and developing software to facilitate scientific discovery. |
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Dr. Rumen Conev, a research scientist specializing in plant breeding, earned his PhD from the Plovdiv Agrarian University, Bulgaria, followed by post-doctoral research in Japan, Israel and Canada. He brings experience as an assistant professor, ornamental plant breeding, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to Vineland where he will develop germplasm with novel traits in high value crops. |
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Dr. Ben Campbell, a horticulture economics researcher, comes to Vineland from Texas A&M University where he completed post-doctorate research. His work will target horticulture market expansion through the introduction of new or enhanced products. |
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Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, a biological control researcher, is an entomologist specializing in integrated pest management and biological control in horticulture, she received her PhD from Laval University. At Vineland, she will focus on insect biocontrol beginning with biological thrips control in greenhouse ornamentals. |
“These individuals bring their knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm to
partnerships with our Canadian horticulture stakeholders and will help in
building a stronger, more competitive industry,” says VRIC CEO Dr. Jim Brandle.
“Vineland has received significant support from both the federal and
provincial governments,” adds VRIC chairperson Donald Ziraldo. “As our research
capacity grows, we also enhance our ability to partner effectively with
research departments in both levels of government, industry and with academia
and other research institutions. Together with these partners, we are building
a stronger research network that is accessible and responsive to the needs of
Canadian horticulture industry from grower through to retail.”
VRIC is an independent, not-for-profit organization created to be a
world-class centre for horticultural science and innovation. In its capacity to
enable and foster relationships with industry, academia and government,
Vineland works to deliver premium product and production innovations. Vineland
brings a global perspective to the Canadian horticulture industry and offers a
broad range of lasting benefits to stakeholders both locally and
internationally. Aligned with industry needs, Vineland’s research priorities
and outcomes are focused on the growth of the entire horticulture industry.
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