About
Discover Plant Nutrition Canada’s mandate and learn about our team.
Launched in 2020, Plant Nutrition Canada provides science support regarding Nutrient Stewardship practices to better inform industry association personnel, agri-environmental scientists, agronomists, crop advisors, agri-retailers, policy-makers, agricultural value chain personnel, and farmers.
Mission
To provide science-based support for sustainable management of plant nutrition.
History
Much of the scientific information Plant Nutrition Canada provides today was developed by the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI). From 2007 to 2019, IPNI was a not-for-profit, science-based organization dedicated to the responsible management of plant nutrition for the benefit of the human family. Its programs ceased operations on April 1, 2019.
IPNI helped many farmers and agricultural service providers better their crop production, profitability, and sustainability through research and education on responsible plant nutrition. Its flagship quarterly, Better Crops with Plant Food, dates back to 1927, distilling valued knowledge from research.
Tom Bruulsema
Chief Scientist, Plant Nutrition Canada
IPNI had active programs in Africa, Australia/New Zealand, Brazil, China, Eastern Europe/Central Asia and Middle East, Latin America-Southern Cone, Mexico and Central America, Northern Latin America, North America (Canada and U.S.A.), South Asia, and Southeast Asia. As a global organization, IPNI had initiatives addressing the world’s growing need for food, fuel, fiber, and feed. It also addressed widespread concern for issues such as food security and the relationship of crop production to the environment and ecosystems. Through cooperation and partnering with respected institutions around the world, IPNI added its strengths to agronomic research, education, demonstrations, training, and other endeavors. Best management practices for nutrient stewardship encouraged the 4R concept of applying the right source, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.
Financial support for IPNI was provided by member companies dedicated to the efficient and responsible use of fertilizers in plant nutrition, companies producing one or more of the major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and sulfur) for agricultural purposes.
The International Plant Nutrition Institute was preceded by the Potash & Phosphate Institute, which in turn evolved from the Potash Institute in the 1970s, tracing back to the 1934 founding of the American Potash Institute.
Strategic Plan 2020-2025
PLANT NUTRITION CANADA MISSION: Providing science-based support for sustainable management of plant nutrition
Our Team
The Staff of Plant Nutrition Canada are:
Tom Bruulsema
Chief Scientist
Tom Bruulsema
Chief Scientist
Dan Heaney
Research Associate
Dan Heaney PhD, PAg, CCA 4R NMS
Research Associate
Dr. Heaney has worked as an agronomist and soil scientist nationally and internationally for over 35 years. He completed his education at the University of Alberta; earning his PhD (Soil Chemistry) in 2001. He is a Professional Agrologist and holds a practice license from the Alberta Institute of Agrologists in the areas of Crop Production; Greenhouse Gas Assessment and Management; and Biosystems, Biosolids, Compost and Manure Management. Dan is also a Certified Crop Advisor with a 4R Nutrient Management Specialization.
Over his career, Dan has worked in the academic, government, and private sectors. He recently retired from Farmers Edge where he was Vice President Global Agronomy. Dan remains actively involved in the digital agriculture space. His current work involves development of expert systems for nutrient management; implementation of 4R Nutrient Stewardship programs; as well as facilitating the adoption of on-farm carbon offset protocols in Canada and internationally. Dan holds an appointment as an Acting Member of Alberta’s Natural Resources Conservation Board. He also serves as the Hearing Director for the Alberta Institute of Agrologists and is a director on the Certified Crop Advisor Prairie Province Board.
Its partners include African Plant Nutrition Institute, Scientific Panel on Responsible Plant Nutrition, 4R Solution Project and 4R Research Fund.
