Western Crop Innovations (WCI) is excited to announce that Ms. Laura Bony will join the company as Agronomy Manager – Research, effective January 6th, 2025. This marks a significant milestone in WCI’s efforts to develop a comprehensive agronomy and extension program that will provide innovative solutions for Western Canadian farmers and producers!
Laura is in the final stages of completing her PhD in Soil Science at the University of Alberta and holds a Master’s degree in Land Reclamation and Remediation from the same institution, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Agro-Environmental Sciences from McGill University. Laura’s strong academic background is complemented by valuable field experience gained through her work with Corteva Agriscience, where she was involved in assessing and maintaining research plots for canola breeding trials. This combination of technical expertise and practical experience makes her an ideal fit to lead WCI’s agronomy initiatives.
“Laura is a fantastic addition to the WCI team,” commented Mark Olson, WCI’s Interim Executive Director. “We were looking for someone who not only met the technical and educational qualifications for the role but also brought a lot of energy into building our agronomy and extension program. Laura is particularly excited by the prospect of supporting project leaders, scientists, and research associates in executing field trials that will help drive demand for WCI’s cutting-edge solutions.”
As agronomy manager, Laura will lead key initiatives to address gaps in agronomic research for Western Canada. Her responsibilities will include consulting with industry experts to shape WCI’s research program, expanding the Registered Variety Trials (RVTs) to additional crops, and optimizing management practices for WCI’s varieties to enhance performance. She will also coordinate field-scale trials across diverse environmental zones to ensure findings are relevant to various growing conditions, and support the organization’s efforts to educate farmers on best practices while raising awareness of WCI’s breeding process.
WCI is thrilled to welcome Laura to the team and looks forward to the valuable contributions she will make both to the company, and the success of Western Canadian Agriculture.