An accomplished scientist and gifted communicator, Dr. Cynthia Grant is renowned for her work on soil fertility and crop nutrition that continues to make crop production more agronomically and economically sustainable for Canadian farmers.

Cynthia grew up on a mixed farm in Manitoba, and true to her roots has been pioneering soil fertility research since graduating with a PhD from the University of Manitoba in the 1980s. She dedicated more than 30 years of her distinguished career as a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), balancing the development and use of scientific tools to help farmers produce more food without jeopardizing the environment or human health.

An enthusiastic and relatable agronomist, Cynthia uses her farm background and interest in applied research to connect with farmers. Her research and extension focused on a vision to develop nutrient management practices that maximize the agronomic efficiency of resources, provide economic returns for farmers and minimize the impact on the environment. She sets an outstanding example that agronomy and soil science are relevant professions that provide critical input on soil management and food quality for future generations.

At AAFC, Cynthia established a large collaborative research network to bring together innovative approaches for advancing soil fertility and crop nutrition across Canada. Her research provided important scientific information that contributed to the foundation of a Made-in-Canada 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework (Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place®) – a global standard for sustainable crop nutrient management.

Cynthia’s work on the effectiveness of fertilizers in Canadian cropping systems spans the globe – recognized internationally with practical, everyday benefits for farmers in Canada. As a research scientist, Cynthia authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and much of today’s crop nutrition, nutrient management and soil fertility knowledge is linked to her research. Her work on fertilizer recommendations is used in extension and training programs in

Canada, Europe, Asia, US, Australia and New Zealand.She has been recognized with local, national and international awards from producer associations, the fertilizer industry, and university, scientific and public groups, and named a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Agronomy, the American Society of Agronomy and the Canadian Society of Soil Science.