Bio
Susanna is a social science researcher working at the intersection of sustainable food systems, climate change and justice. She uses community-based and collaborative approaches to advance policy-relevant research. Her work has explored labour fairness in organic agriculture, climate change risks and protections for farmworkers, and agroecological diversification. She has collaborated with organizations like the Worker Solidarity Network, BC Policy Solutions, Fuerza Migrante, Organic BC, the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), and Ecojustice. Her current Postdoc project at IRES is in collaboration with the Canadian Organic Growers and explores how to improve federal programs to better support organic farmers in addressing risks like climate change. Susanna is also a Professional Agrologist, and runs a small farm where she lives with her family on Tla’amin territory in qathet, BC.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Susanna_Klassen
Featured Publications
Wilson, A., Klassen, S., & Brynne, A. (2026). Power and Participation: Assessing Collaborative Governance of Organic Standards in Canada. Regulation & Governance. https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.70192
Klassen, S., Kremen, C., Ramankutty, N., & Wittman, H. (2025). The distinct drivers of diversification and job quality on BC organic vegetable farms. Agriculture and Human Values, 42, 2937–2960. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-025-10793-2
Klassen, S., Weiler, A. M., & Hastie, B. (2025). Extreme Heat Hits Different Under Climate Change: A Review of Risks and Legal Protections for Agricultural Workers in Canada and the United States. Current Environmental Health Reports, 12(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-025-00490-x
Klassen, S., Luna-Perez, E., Bridson, N., Castrejón Violante, L., Wittman, H., & Ramankutty, N. (2023). Beyond equivalency: Comparing governance and sustainability of three North American organic standards. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 47(10), 1607–1633. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2023.2254717
Klassen, S., Medland, L., Nicol, P., & Pitt, H. (2023). Pathways for advancing good work in food systems: Reflecting on the international Good Work for Good Food Forum. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 12(2), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2023.122.004
Klassen, S., Fuerza Migrante, & Wittman, H. (2022). Sharing the struggle for fairness: Exploring possibilities for solidarity & just labour in organic agriculture. Canadian Food Studies / La Revue Canadienne Des Études Sur l’alimentation, 9(2), 147–179. https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v9i2.536
Klassen, S., & Murphy, S. (2020). Equity as both a means and an end: Lessons for resilient food systems from COVID-19. World Development, 136(105104), 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105104