Global Institute for Food Security at USask announces resignation of Chief Scientific Officer

The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has announced the resignation of its Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Nancy Tout (PhD), who is stepping down to spend more time with family. Tout’s resignation is effective December 31, 2024.

Tout joined GIFS in July 2022, following over two successful decades of leadership roles within the private and public sector innovation ecosystems.

“This was not an easy decision to make as I have enjoyed every moment of my time at GIFS as part of Canada’s strong innovation ecosystem – leading and developing a talented team of scientists, growing GIFS’ network and helping lead the advancement of game-changing innovation and partnerships for Canada’s agri-food and economy,” said Tout.

Since joining GIFS, Tout has made significant contributions, establishing and leading transformative initiatives such as a consortium-based breeding model through the FCC Accelerated Breeding Program at GIFS. Her mission-focused approach and dedication to fostering a partnerships-driven model have strengthened GIFS’ relationships within the agri-food sector, advancing its goals and expanding its impact.

Tout has played a pivotal role aligning GIFS’ scientific team, expertise and workforce with the institute’s market-facing programs. Her leadership has not only enhanced the institute’s capabilities but also ensured that GIFS continues to drive innovation in agri-food.

The position of Chief Scientific Officer, not part of GIFS’ initial structure, became integral under Tout’s leadership, proving its immense value to GIFS and to the ecosystem.

During her tenure, Tout established GIFS’ Science Leadership Team, shaped the direction of the institute’s three market-facing programs and its five technology platforms and cultivated a highly skilled talent pool of expert scientists and researchers within GIFS capable of advancing innovation at scale for its partners and stakeholders.

Her extensive network within the Canadian agri-food industry has been an invaluable asset to GIFS, bringing new opportunities to the institute and strengthening existing collaborations.

“We are incredibly grateful to Nancy for the hard work, passion and vision that she has brought to GIFS, and I sincerely thank her and wish her well in her future endeavours. We will miss her contributions but I wholeheartedly understand and support her decision, knowing that family always comes first,” said GIFS CEO Dr. Steven Webb (PhD).