Prof. Andreas Boecker [1] has been appointed as chair of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics [2]. He begins his five-year-term on February 16, 2019.

“I am honored to have earned the trust to lead FARE,” shares Boecker. “I look forward to working together with faculty, staff, students, our stakeholders and the campus community and contributing to the University’s mission in all its facets.”  

"Andreas brings to this role his strength and experience in guiding and leading academic programs for FARE and for OAC,” says Rene Van Acker, dean of the Ontario Agricultural College. “I am very much looking forward to working closely with Andreas as we continue to grow FARE's capacity and leadership."

­"The Department has grown its capacity and profile nationally and internationally over the past decade due, in part, to the leadership of great chairs, and we look forward to Andreas continuing the positive trajectory of this key department."

Boecker has served as interim chair since September 2018, following Prof. John Cranfield’s appointment as the associate dean (external relations) for the Ontario Agricultural College.

Boecker studies how consumers perceive risks and benefits of novel food-related technologies, in particular agricultural biotechnology. His research also covers local food marketing and food integrity and traceability. 

He received his MSc and PhD at Kiel University in Germany. He joined the University of Guelph in 2005. He has served as the departmental undergraduate program coordinator since 2011 and was the acting associate dean (academic) for the college in the 2016/17 academic year.