Marney Isaac

Dr. Marney Isaac is a Full Professor at the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, with cross-appointments to the Department of Global Development Studies and graduate faculties at the University of Toronto School of the Environment and Department of Geography. She serves as co-Director of the Sustainable Food and Farming Futures research cluster and leads the NSERC/SSHRC Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative project TOsustain. A leading figure in agroecology, she contributes as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Ecology and Agronomy for Sustainable Development, and on the Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems editorial board.

• Research Focus: Agroecosystems, sustainable agriculture, plant functional traits, biogeochemical cycling, and agrarian networks.
• Labs & Collaborations: Leads the Integrative Agroecology Lab, integrating ecological and social processes in agroforestry systems.

Her work bridges scientific and local knowledge, emphasizing nutrient economy, microbial interactions, and climate resilience in diversified agriculture. Recent publications analyze trait-environment relationships, nitrogen dynamics, and policy impacts on agroecosystem management. Media coverage includes profiles in Science Daily, Anthropocene magazine, and CBC’s Quirks and Quarks.

• Scientific Awards: Canada Research Chair in Agroecosystems and Development.
• Grants & Leadership: Directs TOsustain for net-zero food systems and edits special issues in Journal of Applied Ecology.