Research Team

Team Structure

Our research team is comprised of nine researchers from four Universities across central and eastern Canada. Together, the project will define methods, processes and infrastructure to prepare Atlantic Canadian communities to adapt to the effects of climate change and connect farmers, fibre mills, craftspeople, and consumers to a sustainable fibre to fabric supply chain.

Agronomy

Andrew Hammermeister

Associate Professor

Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University

andrew.hammermeister@dal.ca

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Dr. Andrew Hammermeister is the lead researcher of the Agronomy stream and Director of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC). He is committed to translating science into practice by fostering strong and impactful relationships between industry stakeholders, researchers, and students. Andrew draws on a farming background, and has collaborated in research on grain, vegetable and fruit cropping systems. Most recently he has been studying the agronomy of flax for fibre production, soil fertility, and weed management in organic agriculture.

Craft & Material Security

Jennifer Green

Associate Professor

Department of Textiles/Fashion, NSCAD University

jgreen@nscad.ca

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Jennifer Green is the Principal Investigator and lead researcher of the Craft and Material Security stream. She began growing flax in 2010 to connect with the plant origins of linen, a fibre she was using as a handspinner and weaver. In 2022, she launched the Flaxmobile Project, an initiative focused on strengthening the local natural fibre industry through skills development and training and creating networking opportunities for geographically decentralized farmers and craftspeople. In this project, she will develop value-added textile products that support socio-cultural resilience in the region.

Post-Harvest Processing & Manufacturing

Sophia He

Professor

Department of Engineering, Dalhousie University

quan.he@dal.ca

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Dr. Sophia He (P.Eng.) is a lead researcher of the Post-Harvest Processing and Manufacturing stream. Her research focuses on the valorization of low-value and waste biomass into high-value products, including biocarbon materials, biofuels, and bioactive compounds. Sophia’s research on this project will convert flax by-products into a biocarbon material called biochar which can be used as a remediation tool in soil to absorb both organic and inorganic contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals.

James Forren

Associate Professor and Director

School of Architecture, Dalhousie University

james.forren@dal.ca

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James Forren is a lead researcher of the Post-Harvest Processing and Manufacturing stream. His research focuses on the production of architectural components and assemblies, concrete and composite technologies, and tactile experiences with materials in industrial, design, and public contexts. His work in the project will investigate and develop a localized framework for flax-based building materials that can be integrated with modular construction technologies.

Scott Flemming

Senior Instructor

Department of Industrial Engineering, Dalhousie University

scott.flemming@dal.ca

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Dr. Scott Flemming (P.Eng.) is a lead researcher of the Post-Harvest Processing and Manufacturing stream. His research interests centre on problem definition in engineering design, process improvement, and using concepts developed from the philosophy of technology to inform engineering design. In the Flax to Fibre project, Scott is collaborating with Hamid to optimize the efficiency and scalability of primary processing, especially in the scutching phase of linen production.

Hamid Afshari

Assistant Professor

Department of Industrial Engineering, Dalhousie University

hamid.afshari@dal.ca

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Dr. Hamid Afshari (P.Eng.) is a lead researcher of the Post-Harvest Processing and Manufacturing stream. His research interests include applied optimisation in the energy and transportation sectors with a focus on sustainability and advanced technologies. In this project, his expertise will help to improve supply chain management, flax processing, and fibre manufacturing processes, and promote sustainability and resilience across the value chain.

Rural Economy & Consumer Behaviour

Edith Callaghan

Professor and Director

Manning School of Business Administration, Acadia University

edith.callaghan@acadiau.ca

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Dr. Edith Callaghan is a lead researcher of the Rural Economy and Consumer Behaviour stream. Her research focuses on organizational and societal change for sustainability, with a particular focus on sustainable food and agricultural systems. By investigating opportunities and challenges in developing a viable linen industry in Eastern Canada, Edith is overseeing the exploration of alternative models for business and industry development and establishing the current baseline for flax linen production in the Maritime provinces.

Ashley Doyle

Associate Professor

Manning School of Business Administration, Acadia University

Ashley.Doyle@acadiau.ca

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Ashley Doyle (CPA, CA) is a lead researcher of the Rural Economy and Consumer Behaviour stream. She integrates her professional experience with academic research, focusing on financial feasibility, sustainability accounting, financial literacy, and enterprise risk management. Ashley is currently leading the development of the financial feasibility models for the project, integrating enterprise risk management methodologies to assess the viability of developing and sustaining a regional textile supply chain in Atlantic Canada.

Environmental Evaluation & Life cycle Assessment

Goretty Dias

Associate Professor

School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, University of Waterloo

gdias@uwaterloo.ca

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Dr. Goretty Dias is the lead researcher of the Environmental Evaluation and Life Cycle Assessment stream. Her recent work focuses on sustainability and life cycle assessment (LCA) of dietary patterns, Canadian agriculture products, and bioenergy. LCA will be used to systematically account for the environmental impacts associated with the value chain of flax-based products in the region. Results will be used to support a strategic plan for the future of linen products as part of an environmental practice in the textile industry.

James Dean-Moore

Project Manager

Department of Textiles/Fashion, NSCAD University

jdeanmoore@nscad.ca

James Dean-Moore is a Project Management Professional specializing in systems engineering, new technology development, knowledge transfer, and dual-use product development. With a strong interest in community development and social engagement, James believes that local action and broader, collaborative networks can have global effects. As the Project Manager, James brings a systems-oriented and values-based approach to coordinating and supporting the various research teams, helping to ensure project objectives are met.