Read a Q&A with Kat about their research and the award:

How has the Adrian Semmelink Memorial Award made a difference to you?
This award will support me in covering costs related to my transition out of my Masters and into working. With the funding from this award, I will be able to work full-time on my thesis in May, including completing community deliverables such as podcasts, web design, and photo and video work for farmer-collaborators in the Ecuadorian Andes.

What would you like to say to the donors?
I want to thank you folks for making this award accessible and available; it is wonderful to see people investing in sustainable agriculture. I sincerely hope that my work honors Adrian’s legacy and carries his spirit. I am very committed to and passionate about the agroecological work that I do, and I believe that this kind of grassroots work carries all of us along with it. So, thank you for being part of that tide.

Why did you decide to study resources, environment and sustainability?
I chose to study resources, environment, and sustainability because I want to participate in co-creating the world I dream of for myself, my loved ones, and my descendants. I was drawn to this discipline as a means of developing an intellectual and practical toolkit for developing a more just and vibrant multispecies future. As a scholar, an activist, and an artist, I am compelled by RES’s commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship with practical applications.

Are there any activities (internships, research, volunteering, etc.) you’re involved in?
I work as a teaching and research assistant with the Food Sovereignty Research group— I teach undergraduates, and work as a research and communications coordinator between our group and several farming projects in Latin America. I also act as a board member and executive agricultural committee member for the Foundation for the Islands of Old Providence and Santa Catalina. In this role, I work within my Raizal community to advance agroecology and food sovereignty on our islands. Additionally, I will be starting a position with the Vancouver Farmers’ Market this summer.

Are there any interesting facts about yourself or outside interests that you would like to share?
In my free time, I make jewelry and crafts from natural materials which I sell and trade within my communities.  

Read a Q&A with Susanna about her research and the award:

How has this award made a difference to you?
As a graduate student, I find that even small gestures of recognition and financial support go a long way. But this award is something altogether different. I had the pleasure of knowing Adrian Semmelink and experiencing the impact that he had on those around him through his humility, kindness, humour and curiosity. To have been selected for this award for my research on sustainable agriculture is an honour, and bolsters my motivation and drive to continue this work in a way that honours his memory.

What would you like to say to the Adrian Semmelink Memorial Award donors?
I know Adrian’s family is deeply embedded in the agricultural community in BC, and that shone through in his invaluable research and work with the Ministry. This award will enable me and many other scholars to carry forward Adrian’s legacy of policy-relevant, human-centered research on sustainable agriculture. Thank you for contributing to this award, which will both support and acknowledge the contributions of many scholars for years to come.

How have you been involved in the community (clubs, volunteering, etc.)?
I have had the pleasure of being part of many communities throughout my graduate degrees. For four years I was a director on the board of Food Secure Canada, a non-profit that works towards supporting an equitable and empowered food movement to create a more just, healthy and sustainable food system in Canada. I have been actively involved with the organic community through my PhD research, especially Organic BC. I have also collaborated with Fuerza Migrante, a migrant worker collective working to build migrant power from below, in participatory research. Finally, I am a graduate of Pearson College, a United World College (UWC) on Vancouver Island, and have been involved in the BC chapter of the UWC National Committee of Canada which works to select students to attend UWCs around the world based on leadership potential, active commitment and service to community, and academic achievement.

Why did you decide to pursue studies in sustainable agriculture?
I was initially attracted to the field because of my experiences working and volunteering on farms, and what they taught me about sustainability and systems thinking. Increasingly, I view food as a productive entry point to focus on linked socio-ecological systems, especially environmental and social justice. Food system challenges are rarely about food itself.

What have your studies focused on and what about your research really excites you?
My graduate work has varied in its methods, but has generally focused on social dimensions of sustainability in farming systems. My PhD research is about the policy and practice of certified organic agriculture with a focus on labour, fairness for farmworkers, and ecological diversification. I am excited by the prospect of continuing to evolve my thinking, expand my methodological approaches, and deepen my relationships through research. My research has always been problem-driven, and I find this freedom to build on previous work while branching out in new directions to be a real privilege, and the most exciting aspect of my work.