David Percival

David Percival is a Full Professor and Director of the Wild Blueberry Research Program at Dalhousie University’s Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Agriculture). He also manages the Wild Blueberry Research Centre and chairs the Vaccinium Species and Management Working Group for the International Society for Horticultural Science. His research focuses on wild blueberry production, remote sensing applications, and plant physiology under environmental stresses.

Education:

• B.Sc. (Agr.), University of Guelph
• M.Sc., University of Guelph
• Ph.D., University of Guelph

Research Interests:

Dr. Percival’s work spans wild blueberry management, remote sensing for crop monitoring, environmental regulation of plant physiology, climate change impacts, soil fertility dynamics, and plant growth regulation. His recent projects emphasize precision agriculture technologies and disease management strategies.

Publications and Awards:

He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent contributions in BMC Plant Biology, Frontiers in Horticulture, and Microorganisms. Notable awards include the 2021 Meritorious Service Award from the International Society for Horticultural Science and multiple best-paper recognitions from the Canadian Journal of Plant Science.

Grants and Collaborations:

Funding sources include Mitacs, NSERC CRD, and Net Zero Atlantic. He collaborates with industry partners and international organizations to advance sustainable blueberry production.

Supervision and Mentorship:

Dr. Percival has supervised numerous graduate and postdoctoral researchers, including ongoing studies on remote sensing and fungal disease control. His lab actively engages in training the next generation of horticultural scientists.