Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production

Sustainable agriculture, climate change, energy conservation, multiple cropping systems, organic agriculture, forage agronomy, closing nutrient cycles, nitrogen use efficiency, pasture management, and ethics in agriculture.

Research Interests:

My approach to sustainable food production is to produce enough food to meet dietary needs today, while preserving productive capacity for future generations of people and other species. This is within the context of healthy soil, clean air and water, and regenerative energy to support resilient farming and fishing communities.

My research involves collaborative inquiries across disciplines. My training and specific contributions pertain to multiple cropping systems, nitrogen use efficiency, forage agronomy and pasture management.

Selected Publications:

Lynch, D.H., R. MacRae, and R.C. Martin. (2011). The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World? Sustainability (Open Access). 3:322-362.

MacRae, R.J., D. Lynch and R.C. Martin. (2010). Improving Energy Efficiency and GHG Mitigation Potentials in Canadian Organic Farming Systems. J. Sustainable Agric.. 34(5):549-580.

Lui, K., A.H. Hammermeister, D. Patriquin and R.C. Martin. (2008). Assessing organic potato cropping systems at the end of the first cycle of four-year rotations using principal component analysis. Can. J. Soil Sci.. 88:543–552.

Nams, V.O. and R.C. Martin. (2007). The effects of turnout date to pasture on cattle weight gain. Can. J. Animal Sci.. 87:527–534.

Martin, R.C., D.H. Lynch, B. Frick and P. van Straaten. (2007). Phosphorous Status on Canadian Organic Farms. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 87:2737-2740.

Wiens, M.J., M.H. Entz, R.C. Martin and A.M. Hammermeister. (2006). Agronomic benefits of alfalfa mulch applied to organically managed spring wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci.. 86:121-131.

Yiridoe, E.K., S. Bonti-Ankomah and R.C. Martin. (2005). Comparison of consumer perceptions and preference toward organic versus conventionally produced foods: A review and update of the literature. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 20(4):193-205.

Lynch, D.H., R.D.H. Cohen, A. Fredeen, G. Patterson and R.C. Martin. (2005). Management of Canadian prairie region grazed grasslands: Soil C sequestration, livestock productivity and profitability. Can. J. Soil Sci.. 85:183-192.

Lynch, D.H., R.W. Jannasch, A.H. Fredeen and R.C. Martin . (2003). Improving the nutrient status of a commercial dairy farm: An integrated approach. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture.18(3):137-145.

Boyd, N.S., R. Gordon, S.K. Asiedu and R.C. Martin. (2001). The effects of living mulches on tuber yields of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. 18:203-220.

Muto, P.J. and R.C. Martin . (1999). The growth of white clover seeded into a permanent pasture under both grazing and mowing regimes. Grass and Forage Science. 55:59-68.

Jannasch, R. and R.C. Martin. (1999). The potential for capturing the biological yield of white lupin by intercropping with cereals. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. 17:113-130.

Martin, R.C., P.R. Greyson and R. Gordon. (1999). Competition between corn and a living mulch. Can. J. Plant Sci.. 79:579-586.

Martin, R.C., A.R.J. Eaglesham, D.L. Smith and H.D. Voldeng. (1995). Factors affecting nitrogen benefit from soybean to interplanted corn. Environ. and Exper. Botany. 35:497-505.

Martin, R.C., H.D. Voldeng and D.L. Smith. (1991). Nitrogen transfer from nodulating soybean to corn and to nonnodulating soybean in intercrops: Direct 15N labelling methods. The New Phytologist. 117:233-241.

Book Chapters

Martin, R.C.. (2009). Living from the land in Nova Scotia. In Choyce, L. [ed.] Nova Scotia: Visions of the Future. Pottersfield Press, Lawrencetown Beach, NS.

Martin, R.C.. (2009). Grazing for Profit, Health and Environmental Benefits. In Beaton, E. [ed] Connecting the dots: social and environmental Perspective on Agriculture and rural Life in Atlantic Canada. Caper Breton University Press. Sydney, NS.

van Acker, R.C., McLean, N. and Martin, R.C. (2007). Development of quality assurance protocols to prevent GM-contamination of organic crops. In Cooper, J. et al. [eds.] Handbook of organic food safety and quality. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge.

 

Selected Talks

Martin, R.C.. (2011). Eating well in resilient communities. N.B. Inst. of Agrologists, Annual Meeting. New Maryland, N.B. April, 2011.

Martin, R.C.. (2011). Multiple perspectives on food security. Seminar at School of Resource and Environmental Studies. Dalhousie University, Halifax N.S. February, 2011.

Martin, R.C.. (2010). Sustainable Food Production: Shifting to a 21st Century Approach. Plant Agriculture Dept., University of Guelph, Guelph ON. Oct., 2010.

Martin, R.C.. (2010). Organic Agriculture: Responses to Displacement. Dalhousie University, Halifax N.S. Oct., 2010.

Martin, R.C.. (2010). Sustainable Agriculture in a World of Large Scale, Global Food Systems. St. Mary's University, Halifax, N.S. Oct., 2010.

Martin, R.C.. (2010). The Role of Organic Agriculture in a Modern Food System. Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Workshop. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland, ON. July, 2010.

Martin, R.C.. (2010). Organic Agriculture: Challenges and Contributions in a Complex Food System. Atlantic Agricultural Forum. Holiday Inn, Truro, NS. April, 2010.

Martin, R.C.. (2010). The Effect of Climate Change on Forestry & Agricultural Land Use. Central Nova Scotia Woodland Conference 2010. Stewiacke, N.S. March, 2010.

Martin, R.C.. (2010). What Does Organic Have That Works in Conventional Farming? Farm Smart Agricultural Conference. Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph. Jan., 2010.