Mark Olson Has Departed Western Crop Innovations, New Executive Director to be Announced Soon

Mar 13, 2025

Mark Olson has stepped down from his role as interim executive director of Western Crop Innovations (WCI) ahead of the one-year anniversary of his contract. His last day was March 7. The decision was made mutually between Olson and WCI’s interim board as the organization prepares to recruit a full-time, permanent executive director.

Olson was appointed in 2023 to lead WCI’s transition from the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) at Olds College to its new independent structure in Lacombe, Alta. During his tenure, he oversaw key milestones, including securing multi-year funding from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation and achieving notable performance results at this year’s Prairie Grain Development Committee meetings.

“My role with WCI was always to lead and manage all aspects of our transition from the former FCDC residence at Olds College,” Olson said. “Working with a fantastic team of passionate individuals along with our Minister-appointed board, we accomplished our mission and brought renewed focus and credibility to the program.”

With WCI’s annual general meeting set for June, the Interim Board and Olson agreed that new leadership would help strengthen the organization’s business plan as it moves into its next phase. Olson emphasized that securing additional funding and boosting member engagement will be critical for WCI’s long-term success.

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Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.