A role model for women in agriculture and science
/by Emily Leeson
P.E.I.’s own Dr. Christine Noronha has been named one of the 2022 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture.
The honour, bestowed by Annex Business Media, recognizes Noronha’s accomplishments made throughout her 20-plus-year career as an entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
Today, Noronha is one of Canada’s leading experts on agricultural crop insects, but her passion stems right back to childhood.
“I was always interested in insects and their behaviour while growing up, but the turning point came when I enrolled in an entomology course in university and realized how fascinating insects are,” she said. “The integrated pest management section of the course got me interested in agricultural pests and finding ways to control them to help farmers combat the damage they do.”
She added, “Observing the devastation that insects can do to our food crops really made me want to study them and share my knowledge to help farmers.”
Agriculture panned out to be the perfect fit for her passion. “The farmers that I have worked with over the years have been outstanding,” she said. “And knowing that the knowledge I share has helped them control pest insects is the main driver that keeps my interest sparked.”
Always aiming toward environmentally sustainable approaches for pest control, Noronha’s innovations include the NELT (Noronha Elaterid Light Trap), an ingenious tool for producers battling wireworms (a pesky potato plant predator).
The trap, which Noronha designed in 2016, consists of a solar-powered lamp, a small cage, and a cup filled with a small amount of liquid. With the light focused on the cup, female click beetles are easily caught and drowned – stopping short the insect cycle that could otherwise produce thousands of wireworms within a field.
The innovative design was a breakthrough for the industry. “Creativity plays a major role and it is what I enjoy the most about working in agriculture and with insects,” said Noronha. “Research gives me the opportunity to be creative and develop new methods of control. Insects are quite interesting and you never know how they will react to the technique you are testing, so you have to try to stay one step ahead.”
Noronha has also identified plant-based approaches to dealing with wireworms. Focusing on biofumigants – rotational crops that produce chemical compounds that suppress soil-borne pests – she has identified two different crops that help to control wireworm infestations.
More recently, she completed eight years of work in collaboration with chemical company BASF Canada leading to the registration of a new active ingredient, broflanilide, for two new highly effective wireworm insecticides released in 2021.
While her work continues, Noronha has observed many changes in the industry over the course of her career – particularly for women.
“When I first started in agriculture, there were fewer women, not only in research but in the industry as a whole,” she said. “Forging a path towards acceptance of your ideas and views was a big challenge. There has been a tremendous shift in thinking and also more women in agriculture now, which is really great to see.”
Dr. Judith Nyiraneza, a close colleague of Noronha’s at AAFC, nominated her for the Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture honour.
“As women in agriculture, it’s important to have strong voices to lead the industry,” said Nyiraneza. “Christine’s work on reducing wireworm has had a positive local, national, and international impact on agriculture.”
Now, in addition to her own work, Noronha makes time to help build up the next generation of agricultural scientists.
“I think young women need to know that you don’t have to be from an agricultural community to contribute to the industry,” she said. “They need to see women working in this area to know this is a great career.”
She makes a point of visiting schools to speak about agriculture, and she also mentors summer students in her lab.
“I hope that anyone entering science realizes what a great career working in agriculture is and how satisfying it is to contribute to enhancing the food supply of our country,” said Noronha. “My advice to them would be to not dwell on setbacks but keep looking forward and know that with creativity and perseverance you can help Canada’s agricultural industry to compete on the world stage.”
She said that she plans to continue breaking down barriers for women in science and agriculture.
“I’ve had to overcome many obstacles to get where I am today, and to help others reach their goals is just as great as any honour,” said Noronha.
