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
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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105104
Nawaz, S., Klassen, S., & Lyon, A. (2020). Tensions at the boundary: Rearticulating ‘organic’ plant breeding in the age of gene editing. Elem Sci Anth, 8(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.429
Chapman, M., Klassen, S., Kreitzman, M., Semmelink, A., Sharp, K., Singh, G., & Chan, K.M.A., 2017. 5
Key Challenges and Solutions for Governing Complex Adaptive (Food) Systems. Sustainability, 9(9), 1-30.
Klassen, S. E., & Wittman, H., 2017. Place-Based Food Systems: ‘Re-Valuing Local’ and Fostering Socio-
Ecological Sustainability. Sustainable Food Futures: Multidisciplinary Solutions. Ed. Jessica Duncan and
Megan Bailey. London and New York: Routledge.
Klassen, S. E., 2016. Decreasing Distance and Re-Valuing Local: How Place-Based Food Systems Can
Foster Socio-Ecological Sustainability. Solutions, 7(August), 22–26.