Dr. Chantal Hamel is passionate about organisms humans can’t see with the naked eye. Her goal is to improve crops by managing tiny microorganisms found in soil and the plants themselves. These organisms have the potential to increase crop yields while allowing for a reduction in the use of fertilizers.
Dr. Hamel, who earned her Ph.D. in crop physiology from McGill University, has performed her research at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre (SPARC) in Swift Current, SK since 2003. Her area of expertise is plant microbiology, the study of how microscopic organisms harm or benefit plants.
The world’s population is now at seven billion and growing and demand for food is growing with it. Farmers use fertilizers to increase yields, but the resources used to make fertilizers – phosphate and fossil fuels – are non-renewable and their use can pose environmental challenges.
Microorganisms: An Eco-Friendly Way
Dr. Chantal Hamel is passionate about organisms humans can’t see with the naked eye. Her goal is to improve crops by managing tiny microorganisms found in soil and the plants themselves. These organisms have the potential to increase crop yields while allowing for a reduction in the use of fertilizers.
Dr. Hamel, who earned her Ph.D. in crop physiology from McGill University, has performed her research at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre (SPARC) in Swift Current, SK since 2003. Her area of expertise is plant microbiology, the study of how microscopic organisms harm or benefit plants.
The world’s population is now at seven billion and growing and demand for food is growing with it. Farmers use fertilizers to increase yields, but the resources used to make fertilizers – phosphate and fossil fuels – are non-renewable and their use can pose environmental challenges.
Microorganisms: An Eco-Friendly Way