OAC’s Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) [1] was recognized with prestigious honours at the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society (CAES) [2] Annual Meeting, held June 3–5 in Ottawa. 

The awards recognized contributions spanning the full spectrum of agricultural and resource economics, including a research publication that continues to influence the discipline after more than 30 years, to award-winning doctoral research addressing food and water policy issues, and a career of leadership and scholarship in agricultural economics. 

“We are proud to celebrate the recognition of these remarkable colleagues,” says Dr. Getu Hailu, Chair of FARE. “They demonstrate excellence through their dedication, integrity, and meaningful contributions, setting a standard that inspires us all and advances our shared mission.” 

OAC Dean Named CAES Fellow 

Dr. John Cranfield, dean of OAC [3] and professor in FARE, was named a Fellow of the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society. 

The fellowship is the society's highest honour and recognizes sustained contributions to agricultural and resource economics through research, teaching, leadership and service to the profession. 

Cranfield's research has focused on consumer food demand, food policy, innovation, international trade, development economics and agri-food markets. His work has examined issues ranging from food labelling and consumer behaviour to food safety and the impacts of economic shocks on food systems. 

Cranfield’s contributions to agricultural economics have had an impact through his research, teaching, leadership and outreach. This recognition reflects both his achievements and the strength of agricultural economics at the University of Guelph. 

Alumni Dr. Jamie Nailor Receives Outstanding PhD Thesis Award 

Recent FARE PhD graduate Dr. Jamie Nailor received the CAES Outstanding PhD Thesis Award for his dissertation, Three Essays in Applied Economics: Identifying and Measuring Strategic Behaviour in Food and Water Systems. 

Supervised by Dr. Brady Deaton [4], Nailor's research examined how individuals, organizations and markets respond to economic incentives and public policy. 

The dissertation included three studies that explore the strategic under-reporting of arsenic contamination in community water systems, the effects of vertical integration on competition and consumer welfare in food markets and Canada's Nutrition North subsidy program.  

Fox and Weersink Receive Publication of Enduring Quality Award 

FARE’s Dr. Alfons Weersink [5] and retired professor Dr. Glenn Fox received the CAES Publication of Enduring Quality Award for their 1995 paper, Damage Control and Increasing Returns. 

The award recognizes publications that have made a lasting contribution to the discipline of agricultural economics and public policy and continues to influence current research long after publication. 

In the paper, Fox and Weersink examined damage-control inputs such as pesticides and other technologies used to reduce production losses. Their research challenged conventional assumptions about how these inputs affect productivity and demonstrated that increasing returns could occur under conditions not previously recognized by economists. 

The paper has continued to influence both theoretical and applied research on pest management, risk mitigation, environmental policy and agricultural production. More than three decades after publication, it remains widely cited and continues to inform research in agricultural and resource economics. 

FAB Student Receives the CAES Undergraduate Book Award 

Shawna Terpstra, a Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate student majoring in Food and Agricultural Business (Class of 2026), has been awarded the CAES Undergraduate Book Award. This distinction recognizes outstanding academic achievement in the study and application of agricultural, food, or resource economics, farm management, or closely related disciplines. 

Other Notable Accolades:  

• Dr. Jamie Naylor, Dr. Brady Deaton, with colleague Dr. Alan Ker, received honourable mention for their paper “On pass-through rate of the Nutrition North Canada Subsidy.” The award recognizes achievement in agricultural economics, resource economics and farm management for articles appearing in the Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics. The research provides evidence to inform policy decisions related to drinking water regulation, food market competition and food affordability in northern and remote communities. 
• Obed Amponsah, supervised by Drs. Getu Hailu and Sylvanus Afesorgbor, has been awarded the second-place prize for his paper titled “Effect of International Sanctions on Agricultural Productivity.” His research highlights the critical links between global policy actions and agricultural outcomes. 
• Naduni Uduwe Welage, under the supervision of Dr. Sylvanus Afesorgbor, received third place for her paper, “Do Leader Visits Boost Trade? Sector-Level Evidence from U.S. Agricultural and Manufacturing.” Her work provides valuable insights into the relationship between diplomatic engagement and sectoral trade dynamics.