Keynote Speakers
Shannon Stunden Bower, PhD
Professor of History, Classics, and Religion, University of Alberta
Shannon Stunden Bower (she/her) is a settler scholar of mixed European ancestry. She is a Professor of History in the Department of History, Classics, and Religion at the University of Alberta. Stunden Bower studies the environmental history of the Canadian prairie west, with particular interests in agricultural history, water management, and state power. Her research has been recognized through awards from groups including the Canadian Historical Association, the Agricultural History Society, and the Network in Canadian History and Environment.
Arnold Schumann, PhD
Professor of Precision Agriculture
Dr. Arnold Schumann is a professor in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences department at the University of Florida and an adjunct professor at Dalhousie University and the University of Prince Edward Island. With over 24 years of experience in precision agriculture, his research spans from the use of electromagnetic induction for mapping shallow groundwater depth to the development of variable rate technologies for citrus and blueberry production. Since 2016, he has led innovations in artificial intelligence, machine vision, and farm robotics, including grower-focused apps and precision sprayers. He is also the co-founder of EZ Ag Innovations. One of his most impactful contributions is the “Citrus Under Protective Screen” (CUPS) system, a large-scale protected agriculture method that has restored profitability to Florida’s citrus industry, facing the devastating Huanglongbing disease.
Ryan Barrett
Research & Agronomy Specialist, PEI Potato Board
Ryan Barrett is the Research and Agronomy Specialist with the Prince Edward Island Potato Board. He leads and coordinates local and national research initiatives, working closely with various partners and conducting on-farm trials with PEI potato growers. Ryan serves as the lead on three projects under the ACS Living Labs program in the province. He holds a B.Sc. from Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture and an M.Sc. from the University of Guelph. A Professional Agrologist and Certified Crop Advisor for the Atlantic Provinces, Ryan is also the Past-President of the PEI Institute of Agrologists and Chair of the Canadian Potato Council’s Research Working Group.
Peter Swinkels
President of the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia
Peter Swinkels is an agricultural engineer who served in the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture for 28 years. Peter then moved on to a position as general manager and engineer at Doug Bragg Enterprises (DBE) for 20 years. He was also in charge of the Research and Development component of DBE. Peter received a Shield of Honour in recognition of his excellent service and contribution to the engineering profession and the agriculture industry. He also received the prestigious Friend of the Faculty Award from Dalhousie University in recognition of his service and research contributions to the Faculty of Agriculture.
Josh Cowan, PhD
Director of Research and Innovation at Grain Farmers of Ontario
Dr. Josh Cowan is the Director of Research and Innovation at Grain Farmers of Ontario. The team generates value for Ontario’s grain farmers through establishing research priorities, strategic research investments, and engaging with research stakeholders to improve research capacity and outcomes. Dr. Cowan is also a Director and Vice President of the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance, an alliance of several producer and industry organizations across Canada that leads national grains research initiatives. Dr. Cowan has a BScH in biology from Acadia University and a PhD in plant pathology from the University of Guelph.
Travis Esau, PhD
Director of Dalhousie University’s Atlantic Institute for Digital Agriculture
Dr. Travis Esau is a Professor in the Department of Engineering at the Faculty of Agriculture and the Director of Dalhousie University’s Atlantic Institute for Digital Agriculture. He is a mechanical engineer specializing in machine systems and automation engineering, with a focus on agricultural mechanized systems, digital agriculture, precision agriculture, remote sensing, agricultural drones, and the automation of farming operations, as well as data-driven decision analysis for complex agricultural and biological systems. Dr. Esau is also involved with graduate student supervision at the University of Maine (adjunct) and the University of Prince Edward Island, where he holds an adjunct position in Sustainable Design Engineering.
Jaswinder Singh, PhD
Professor, Department of Plant Science, McGill University
Dr. Jaswinder Singh is a Professor and Director of the NSERC-CREATE program on “Genome Editing for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability” at McGill University, Canada. His research focuses on advancing food security and environmental sustainability through genomics, molecular breeding, and biotechnology. Dr. Singh has also held leadership roles in scientific societies, serving as President of the Canadian Society of Agronomy and as a member of the Board of Directors for Plant Canada. Additionally, he has contributed to key committees, including the International Affairs Committee and the Enid MacRobbie Corresponding Membership Award Committee for the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). His contributions to agriculture have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the C.D. Nelson Award in 2018, the Fellow Award in 2021 and Mary E. Spencer Award in 2025.