Our Team
Meet the Regenerative Alberta Living Lab Team!
Dr. Monika Gorzelak is the Lead on the AAFC side. She is a research scientist at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre (RDC) and leads the AAFC science team. Currently on parental leave.
Dr. Patrick Neuberger, Lethbridge RDC AAFC, is co-leading the AAFC science team through Monika’s parental leave.
Dr. Brad Stelfox and Dr Matt Carlson from ALCES are developing the Grazing and Plant Community App to be used for data collection.
Dr. Preston Sorenson, University of Saskatchewan, is an expert on predictive spectral data processing and predictive soil mapping. Preston will not only be building a soil carbon map to correlate to other biological, chemical and physical aspects of the soil – but he is also responsible for the FTIR soil spectral library that we are building.
Dr. Tom Hengl, Soil Carbon Mapping (with Dr. Sorenson). Dr. Hengl has a background in predictive soil mapping, geostatistics, GIS and remote sensing. He is an active developer of Machine Learning Algorithms for processing soil and environmental data.
Dr. Ischsani Wheeler, Soil Carbon Mapping (with Dr. Sorenson). Dr. Wheeler is an agricultural land and water restoration, natural resource monitoring, and soil carbon methodologies specialist. She consults in the area of sampling, mapping and quantifying the spatial distribution of soil carbon at global to field scales.
Laura S. Lynes, The Resilience Institute, based in Canmore, is working with the project to draft guidelines and good practices for ethical engagement with Indigenous community members and support for the meaningful participation of knowledge holders and elders in Living Lab activities. They are creating a list of management practices that not only meet production and ecological goals but that are economically viable and that braid together multiple ways of knowing in a holistic and respectful manner.
Dr. Bruce Phillips and Dr. Margaret McComb AAFC (Ottawa RDC) is aiding in the development of a survey to evaluate Beneficial Management Practice (BMP) adoption.
Dr. Mervin St. Luce AAFC (Swift Current RDC) is working with us on the Soil Spectral Library.
Dr. Xiaoyuan Geng AAFC (Ottawa RDC) is working with us to help us map microbiomes.
Dr. Wade Abbott AAFC (Lethbridge RDC) is helping to understand the carbon composition of root exudates and better understand the liquid carbon pathway as well as supporting the Resilience Institute in weaving Indigenous practices into modern food production practices.
Dr. Tim McAllister AAFC (Lethbridge RDC), and Dr. Roland Kroebel, AAFC is conducting life cycle assessments of regenerative farms that include beef production.
Dr. Emma Stephens AAFC (Edmonton RDC) is leading economic analysis of regenerative farming practices.
Living Lab Cooperators and Industry Experts
The Regenerative Alberta Living Lab came out of discussions between a group of applied research associations, forage and grazing associations, scientists, and others complemented by a series of producer engagement sessions around the province where we gathered input on what practices farmers/ranchers were already using and what practices they wanted to try.
We have a common goal of seeking farming and ranching innovations that will lead to climate solutions, food security, improved human health and agricultural sustainability through reduced cost of production. The lab is led by the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) and Food Water Wellness Foundation (FWWF)
Our partners include Alberta forage and grazing associations, industry associations, and applied research associations.
These groups are responsible for initiatives such as coordination between the RALL project and our producers, organizing and hosting events designed to share information on the various BMPs and other learnings coming out of the project.
Our Partners
Debbie Miller
Overall daily operations including finances, contracts, human resources, policy, procedures, reporting.
Operations Manager
Barb Sheldon, MA
Partner outreach, event and social media communications.
Communications Coordinator
Dr. Kris Nichols
Dr. Kris Nichols is Lead Scientist, Food Water Wellness Foundation.
Lead Scientist
Dr. Olivier LaRocque
Socio economic data collection and analysis, mapping management history.
Socio-economic Team Lead
Keri Sharpe
Data collection and management, GHG HOLOS reporting.
Producer Engagement
Brett Fizzell
Soil sampling and Olds soil lab logistics.
Logistics Manager
Slide To See Our Partners
Our Story
The Regenerative Alberta Living Lab (RALL) acknowledges that its work is conducted on the traditional territories of the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Alberta who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations, and who will continue to do so for generations to come. We are grateful to the Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. RALL expresses deep gratitude and respect for the land we use and commits to advancing reconciliation and partnering with Indigenous Peoples in our work.
This project honours and respects the diverse knowledge of all involved and is deeply grateful to those who are sharing their knowledge to tackle agricultural climate challenges and work towards solutions.