September marked Organic Month in Canada—a month-long celebration of organic food and farming and the people working to strengthen the sector.
Throughout the month, we shared new articles featuring recent research findings from OSC4 researchers, showcasing their contributions to addressing organic production challenges.
We also celebrated Dr. Liette Vasseur, recipient of the Outstanding Leadership in Organic Science Award at the 2026 Organic Gala and Leadership Awards.
Read more about Dr. Vasseur and find links to three of our latest articles below.
Dr. Liette Vasseur
Dr. Liette Vasseur received the Outstanding Leadership in Organic Science award at the 2026 Organic Gala and Leadership Awards, an event hosted by the Canada Organic Trade Association on September 24 in Toronto, Ontario.
Dr. Vasseur is one of more than 50 dedicated researchers contributing to Organic Science Cluster 4. Her research is exploring the use of native plant species as cover crops in and around vineyards to enhance ecosystem services and build resilience in the face of climatic and environmental change.
Dr. Vasseur is a full professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and an affiliate of the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock University. She holds the UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability: From Local to Global.
“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award. For many years, I have been committed to contributing to the sustainability and health of rural communities. Having grown on a farm, I know the importance of sustainable agriculture. My research relates to organic systems as it also protects nature and humans. As farmers are now facing increasing challenges due to climate change and geopolitical instability, I strongly believe that organic farms can be more resilient than conventional system. Working along farmers to find nature solutions has been a privilege and a passion that I want to transfer to my students as well.” — Dr. Liette Vasseur
Latest OSC4 Articles
New Research Supports a Living Soil Approach to Organic Greenhouse Production
The 2026 Canadian Organic Standards reinforce a shift toward managing organic greenhouses as functioning agroecosystems. For growers, this means considering how management practices influence the biological processes that support crop nutrition and soil health.
Resilient Pastures: But Will the Cows Eat Them?
That’s an important question for researchers working to build more resilient organic dairy pastures. A forage species may perform well agronomically, but if cows don’t find it appealing, its value in a grazing system may be limited.
Microencapsulated Sprayable Pheromones Offer a New Approach to Blackheaded Fireworm Management.
The microencapsulated formulation can be applied using standard farm spraying equipment and reapplied during periods of moth flight.
