Dr. Tarlok Singh Sahota, Director of Agricultural Research at LUARS and Bioenterprise SIAC Advisor, speaks about soil health and nutrient management, regenerative agriculture, and challenges faced by farmers in northern climates
By Tabitha Caswell for Bioenterprise
Dr. Tarlok Singh Sahota has assumed a role beyond that of a traditional researcher; he’s been an instrumental leader and a devoted partner to the farming community of Thunder Bay, Ontario and beyond. Spanning multiple countries across the globe, his story is a wholesome one – and from the beginning, his approach has always been, and continues to be, unique.
While many experts remain confined to labs and offices, Dr. Sahota believes in the power of personal connections. He walks alongside farmers, and he feels the soil beneath his feet, listening to the stories they tell. Here, as a distinguished member of the Science and Innovation Advisory Committee (SIAC) with Bioenterprise, this expert shares a few valuable insights with us from his compendium of work.
Farm Boy to Hall of Fame
If we could travel back in time to the 1950s, to the village of Phalpota in the Punjab State of India, we would find a young boy named Tarlok Singh Sahota. Young Tarlok had a dream – one that grew naturally alongside the crops he tended on his family’s farm. It grew beyond the soil and the fields, beyond the bounds of his imagination.
In pursuit of his dream, this farm boy embarked on an academic journey, earning his PhD from the renowned Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana. His thirst for knowledge also led him to the Netherlands to complete the intensive International Course for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture.
Although academia gave shape to Dr. Sahota’s vision of the future, his heart remained in the fields. From the lush, green landscape of Shillong in northeastern India to expansive agricultural projects in Nigeria, he applied his knowledge and honed his skills.
Up to that point, and from a distance, that young man’s journey might appear impressive, yet average in the context of agricultural science. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes quite clear there is something special about this scientist – something that sets him apart from others in his field. This agrarian has a gift.
You see, soil and plants speak to Dr. Sahota and he instinctively interprets their language in a way others cannot. He is a translator, an intermediary, a finely tuned connection point between humans and their environment. This unique ability, paired with a touch of fate, brought him to the Thunder Bay Agriculture Research Station (LUARS) in Ontario, Canada in 2004. Here, his work has evolved into its full expression; a legacy of understanding, compassion, and collaboration.
Dr. Sahota’s dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Among numerous accolades, his recent induction into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame stands as a symbol of the collection of his contributions to farming – not only in Ontario, but in Canada and around the world. While awards are gratifying, however, for him, the true reward has always been the trust, camaraderie, and success of the farmers he supports.
Dr. Sahota finds great joy in helping to solve issues within the world of agriculture, and when it comes to climate change, many of the issues faced by farmers in northern Ontario are shared by farmers everywhere.
Evolving Through Climate Change
In the face of climate change, the agricultural industry is on the cusp of a seismic shift. Northern regions like Thunder Bay District are particularly vulnerable. With its already short growing seasons becoming increasingly erratic, the traditional crops that once flourished are now grappling with adaptation, and the team at LUARS is addressing these challenges head-on.
Dr. Sahota’s experience underscores the ever-evolving nature of climate change. “Every year presents a new challenge. We may address one issue, only to be confronted with another the following season,” he reflects. However, implementation of certain practices has proven highly effective.
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