Dr. Isabelle Aicklen has been appointed the new Ontario Bean Growers (OBG) Professor in Weed Management.
The announcement was made March 7 by the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC). Dr. Aicklen will be based at the University’s Ridgetown Campus where her research will directly benefit Ontario’s bean growers by identifying innovative and sustainable solutions for weed management, the OAC said in a release. She will also play a key role in teaching and mentoring students in Ridgetown’s diploma programs, “helping to train the next generation of agricultural professionals.”
Dr. Aicklen completed her BSc and Ph.D. at the University of Guelph, where her research focused on herbicide resistance in green pigweed populations in southwestern Ontario. The OAC said her work “provided critical insights into effective weed management strategies for Ontario growers.” She previously worked at Cargill Ltd., Syngenta Canada Inc., and Bayer CropScience, where she gained firsthand experience in agronomy, pest management, and grower engagement.
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Her hiring is made possible through $2 million in funding from OBG and an anonymous donor. Funding for the professorship was announced last year to ensure weed research continued for dry beans after the retirement of Dr. Peter Sikkema, as well as help support the Huron Research Station for the next 10 years.
Dr. Aicklen’s industry experience and passion for teaching make her an excellent fit for this position, Brett Shepherd, director of U of G’s Ridgetown Campus, said in the release.
“Her expertise in weed science and passion for knowledge-sharing will be an incredible asset to our diploma students, who will gain hands-on experience in the latest weed management strategies.”
The Ontario Bean Growers Professorship in Weed Science is part of a broader effort to support Ontario’s dry bean sector and will boost U of G’s leadership in dry bean research. The recent renewal of the OBG Dry Bean Agronomy and Pest Management faculty positions at Ridgetown Campus, along with Dr. Aicklen’s appointment, ensures that research and extension efforts continue to serve Ontario’s bean industry for years to come.
“We are excited to work with Dr. Isabelle Aicklen and look forward to continuing the great work of weed management research at the Ontario Crops Research Centre sites in Huron and Ridgetown,” said Jamie Payton, chairman of the Ontario Bean Growers (OBG). “Edible dry-bean growers continue to struggle with invasive weed pressures, like waterhemp, in prime growing regions. Dr. Aicklen’s research is vital in helping farmers provide the best beans in the world by tackling these troublesome weeds resulting in increased yield, quality and profitability.”
With Ontario producing nearly 100,000 acres of dry beans annually—most of which are exported internationally—investment in research and education remains crucial, the OAC said. Dr. Aicklen’s work at Ridgetown “will help growers optimize production practices and stay ahead of evolving weed management challenges, reinforcing U of G’s commitment to supporting a strong and sustainable agricultural sector.”
The Ontario Crops Research Centre is owned by the Government of Ontario through its agency, Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO), and is managed by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.
