Tom Goddard is a senior policy advisor with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Alberta, Canada. An early career path in agriculture extension developed a range of skills and an understanding of farm systems. Additional paths into consulting increased exposure into forestry and land reclamation systems for the private sector. Government experience as a soil specialist and manager helped acquire a wide background in soil science research and development including conservation technologies, precision farming, fertility, landscape relationships, soil quality and reclamation. With academic training in both animal science and soil science combined with many years of experience in agriculture from both practical and professional perspectives, Tom now explores those vacant spaces between policy, research, extension and pragmatism. Tom has been involved with greenhouse gas and climate change work since the 1990s participating in policy and science development initiatives at the provincial, federal and international levels. Recent work has included sustainable metrics, footprints and environmental impacts. He has done consultations for a variety of agencies in a number of countries, participated in think-tanks and provided strategic advice.
