Position: Professor; Department of Food, Agricultural and Resources Economics
agricultural economics, cropping systems, natural resource economics
About Alfons Weersink
Alfons Weersink grew up on a farm in St. Marys, Ontario, where he developed an interest in the economics and structure of agriculture. His academic career began at the University of Guelph, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. During the period between his master’s and Ph.D., he worked in the farm lending industry, and returned to the University of Guelph as a faculty member after completing his Ph.D. at Cornell University. In addition to being a faculty member, Alfons is also an assistant coach for the Gryphons women’s varsity soccer team.
“I enjoy examining practical issues facing agriculture and the changing nature of these issues.”
As an agricultural economist, much of Alfons’ work is applied and results in tangible outcomes. For example, he often analyzes the feasibility of a new technology such as biomass crops, methane digesters and bioproduct plastics, to determine whether it is a valuable innovation and under what conditions it is most beneficial. He also looks at the cost-effectiveness of farm level practices, such as herd health management strategies to deal with diseases. Much of his work is summative and informs government, policy makers and producer organizations of the expected impacts of a particular proposed policy or practice. Alfons’ research is often interdisciplinary and extends across all species of livestock animals and crops, allowing his work to easily transition to newly developing areas of concern in agriculture
Current CREATE-CSS Students
- Roy Ahiati (M.Sc.)
- Obed Sappor (M.Sc.)
CREATE-CSS Alumni
- Tasmia Kabir (M.Sc.)
- Daniel Schuurman (Ph.D.)