Laura L. Van Eerd

Dr. Laura L. Van Eerd is a Professor of Sustainable Soil Management at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, affiliated with the School of Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and carbon in agroecosystems, emphasizing cover crops, soil health, and sustainable agriculture. She holds a BSc (Env), MSc, and PhD from the University of Guelph.

Her research addresses: (1) cover crop roles in soil health and productivity, (2) nitrogen use efficiency, and (3) mitigating environmental impacts of agricultural practices. Current projects include cover crop nitrogen losses, remote sensing for crop nitrogen deficiency, and pest control product environmental impacts. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including the 2018 Best Paper in the Canadian Journal of Plant Science.

• Education:
• BSc (Environmental Science), University of Guelph
• MSc, University of Guelph
• PhD, University of Guelph

Her awards include recognition as one of Canada’s Influential Women in Agriculture (2020), the Dr. Ron Pitblado Teaching Excellence Award (2016), and the OAC Distinguished Extension Award (2011). Her work bridges research, teaching, and extension to support Ontario’s agricultural sector.

Advising and grants: Laura leads research teams at Ridgetown Campus, focusing on vegetable production systems and sustainable soil management. Her grants include funding for cover crop nitrogen dynamics and soil health indicator studies.

Labs/teams: Active in Ridgetown Campus’s agricultural research initiatives, collaborating with growers and government to develop practical solutions for soil health and environmental sustainability.