M.Sc. Student, University of Guelph
Supervisor: Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle
About Maurizio Comandone
Maurizio is an Italian PhD candidate, currently working at McCain Foods as Global Sustainability Data Analyst.
He graduated from his BSc at the University of Turin, Italy, majoring in Agricultural Science and Technology with a thesis on the effects of partial root-zone drying on yield and quality of processing tomato. He obtained his MSc at Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands, majoring in Plant Sciences, and specializing in Natural Resources Management with a thesis on modelling light interception in mixed-species canopies.
His research is focused on modelling the effect of conventional and regenerative agricultural practices on future N2O emissions in Canadian farming systems. This topic is of particular interest for him because the agricultural sector is the first major emitter of N2O globally, with important consequences for climate change and global warming. Moreover, since the time of his BSc degree, he has always been enthusiastic about soil science, agronomy, and climate-smart agriculture.
With the successful completion of the program, he hopes to gain critical knowledge and expertise about soil management and climate-smart soil mitigation strategies to be shared with growers and with the agrifood stakeholders. With his research, he wants to deliver a model able to describe the soil biogeochemical cycles better and more precisely, and to devise new agricultural practices to mitigate soil N2O emissions. His goal is to return to the agrifood industry and to use the acquired knowledge to improve the standard operating procedures of agriculture concerning soil health, nutrient management, sustainable agronomic practices, and climate adaptation and mitigation.
During his free time and when he is not seen at the university campus, Maurizio likes to spend time outdoor hiking and mountain biking in the wild or camping with friends.