Poonam Singh BSc, MSc, PhD

Poonam Singh BSc, MSc, PhD

College address

Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts, rm. 117
North Hill Campus
1035, 1st Street North
Brandon, MB
R7A2Y1

singhp@assiniboine.net

Biography

Poonam Singh

Dr. Poonam Singh’s primary research interests encompass the development of sustainable technologies for greenhouse-based production of horticultural crops with a focus on the development/assessment of innovative soilless media and substrates, rootzone management of greenhouse crops, hydroponic crop systems, controlled environment agriculture, and the study of horticultural crop physiology.

With a proven ability to lead both national and international research and development projects in the industry, Dr. Singh is dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and optimizing resource efficiency on horticultural farms; her goal is to contribute to the promotion of environmentally conscious agriculture. Dr. Singh’s strategic vision is characterized by a comprehensive perspective that addresses not only the immediate objectives of individual projects but a more extensive mission to contribute to the progressive evolution of the horticultural landscape. Through her scholarly pursuits, she strives to cultivate a culture of innovation, fostering forward-thinking across all aspects of research and development. Dr. Singh’s dedication to contributing meaningful insights is evidenced by a substantial track record of published research papers in esteemed academic journals, complemented by the honor of receiving numerous prestigious grants from various public and private funding agencies and industry-focused groups.

Dr. Singh has been actively involved in advising, mentoring, and guiding students toward academic excellence throughout her professional journey. Dr. Singh plays an active role in numerous academic and research committees. She contributes her expertise as an advisory board member and examiner for post-graduate research studies across multiple universities. Additionally, she serves as a reviewer for various academic journals and grant applications.

Research grants:

  • 2023-24: Exploring new sustainable growing media for horticultural crop production. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • 2023-24: Analysis of Plant Growth and Nutritional Quality in an Aquaponic System. National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
  • 2023-24: Characterization of the biocarbon-substituted soilless growing media. National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
  • 2023-2024: Examining Operational Parameters of Modular Freight Container Farms for Leafy Greens Production. National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
  • 2023-24: Biochar: A Promising Substitute for Peat in Soilless Growing Media. National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
  • 2023-24: Baseline Chemical and Physical Assessments of Typha as a Potential Soilless Growing Media Amendment. National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
  • 2022-23: Sustainable Substrates: A Study on their Applicability in Ornamental Crop Cultivation. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
  • 2022-23: The 4Rs: Growing horticultural crops in sustainable growing media. AAFC-AgriRisk Initiatives program, Microgrants Stream
  • 2021-2022: Exploring new sustainable growing media for ornamental crop production. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
  • 2021: Eco-craft Project. A collaboration between Scientists and Artists. Manitoba Craft Council, MB.
  • 2020-2022: Building applied research capacity to support Manitoba agriculture, innovation, and sustainability. NSERC, Canada.
  • 2019: Onion neck rot disease prevalence studies in Manitoba’. Employment and Social Development Canada.
  • 2018-2023: Assiniboine Community College Field to Fork Project, Canadian Agricultural Partnership Grant, a Federal-Provincial initiative, Govt. of Canada.
  • 2018: Establishing a biological pest management program for nursery crop production. NSERC, Canada.
  • 2018: Knowledge Dissemination Travel Grant, Assiniboine Community College Applied Research Fund, Manitoba, Canada.
  • 2017-2018: Establishing a Community Plant Germplasm Conservatory. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
  • 2016: Developing herbarium of traditionally important plants for awareness and educational purposes. Employment and Social Development Canada.
  • 2015-2018: Canada-Manitoba Growing Forward 2- Growing Innovation - Capacity and Knowledge Development Program, a Federal-Provincial initiative, Govt. of Canada.
  • 2014: Plant breeding for organic farming systems: A collaborative approach to sustainability. Shastri Partnership Seed Grant project funded by the Shastri Indo Canadian Institute, Canada.
  • 2013: Initiation of a germplasm bank for selected plants with potential to be new crops for BC agriculture-A pilot project. Investment Agriculture Council of British Columbia, Canada.
  • 2013-2014: A new biofertilizer using insect frass and chitin Phase I. NSERC, Canada.
  • 2002-2011: All India Coordinated Research Project on Floriculture-Indian Council of Agricultural Research: Coordinated numerous projects on production and breeding of rose, chrysanthemum, and gladiolus crops.

Recent Publications

Research papers in peer-reviewed journals:

  • Singh, P., Rao, S., Bisht, V., and Gonsalves, T. (2023). Direct-seeded versus transplanted onions: Varietal Performance in Canadian Prairies. International Journal of Vegetable Science (under review).
  • Singh, P. and Rao, S. (2023). Effect of curing methods on Botrytis neck rot disease of onions in the Canadian prairies. Acta Horticulturae. (in press).
  • Singh, P. (2023). Can cattail fibers effectively replace peat in soilless growing media? Acta Horticulturae. (accepted for publication).
  • Rao, S., and Singh, P. (2023). Passive Solar Greenhouse-A sustainable option for propagating sweet potato for colder climatic regions. Sustainable Agriculture Research (accepted for publication).
  • Rao, SA, Hendricks, B., Gray, A., and Singh, P. (2023). Culinary Treatments Affect Sensory Attributes an9d Consumer Preference for Sweet Potato Cultivars. Journal of Food Research 12(1): 2023
  • Rao, SA, Singh, P and Gonsalves, T. (2022) Black plastic mulch affects soil temperature and yield of sweet potato under short season temperate climates, International Journal of Vegetable Science 29 (1): 72-83.
  • Singh, P., Ahmad, F., Bisht, V., Thakkar, N., Sajjad, S. (2021). Early detection of onion neck rot disease in Manitoba. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 00: 1-14
  • Singh, P. (2021). Propagation of 14 prairie native forbs by sexual and asexual methods. Native Plants Journal 22(3):345–354.
  • Singh, P., and Nykolyshyn, T. (2021). Biocontrol in practice in northern floricultural greenhouses. Ornamental Horticulture Journal. 27 (4): 544-555.
  • Singh, P. (2021). Response of cucumber plants to oxygen-enriched nutrient solution under different greenhouse environments. Acta Horticulturae. 1317, 47-54.
  • Singh, P. and Whibbs, R. (2021). A College’s Traditional Indigenous Plant Garden as Third Space. Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation (under review).
  • Rao, S.A., Mintenko, A., Abbey, L. and Singh, P. (2020). Wintering index and yield traits for early, mid and late season strawberry for colder climates. International Journal of Fruit Science. 20 (2), 151-158.

Papers presented in conferences/symposia:

  • Singh, P. (2023). Can cattail fibers effectively replace peat in soilless growing media? Paper presented at 4th Asian Horticulture Congress, Tokyo, Japan, August 28-31, 2023.
  • Singh, P. and Rao, S. (2022). Effect of curing methods on Botrytis neck rot disease of onions in the Canadian prairies. Paper presented at VIII International Symposium on Edible Alliums, Pula, Croatia, May 23-25, 2022.
  • Singh, P. (2021). Response of cucumber plants to oxygen-enriched nutrient solution under different greenhouse environments. Paper presented at II International Symposium on Growing Media, Soilless Cultivation, and Compost Utilization in Horticulture, Belgium, Aug. 22-27, 2021.
  • Singh, P., Bisht, V. and Gonsalves, T. (2021). Direct-seeded versus transplanted onions: Varietal Performance in Canadian Prairies. Paper presented at the Annual General Conference of the American Society of Horticulture Science, Denver, Colorado, USA, Aug. 5-7, 2021.
  • Singh, P. and Whibbs, R. (2020). In the Garden of the Ancestors: Preserving Traditional Indigenous Medicines and Culinary Plants in a College Garden. Paper presented at the 22nd Annual Indigenous Knowledge Symposium: Indigenous Plant Sovereignty, Queens University, ON, Canada. Nov. 6-7, 2020.
  • Singh, P. (2018). Advanced crop production systems-a key to sustainable and productive agriculture. Key Note speech presented at Agritex India 2018 Conference and Exhibition, Hyderabad, India, Oct.4-6, 2018
  • Singh, P., Deng, A. and Hinrichs, S. (2017). Managing western flower thrips by the use of biocontrol agents in conventional and solar greenhouses. Paper presented in the 8th World Congress on Agriculture & Horticulture held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 2-3, 2017.
  • Hinrichs, S, Deng, A, Singh, P. and Rao, S. (2016). Establishing Biological Pest Control Systems for Managing Greenhouse Pests. Paper presented in Colleges and Institutes Canada Applied Research Symposium held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, March 6-8, 2016.

Extension Articles:

  • Singh, P. (2023). Sustainability of Growing Media-Using waste-stream products for horticultural crop production. Manitoba Nursery and Landscape Association. Winter Newsletter, 2023
  • Singh, P. (2023). Cash in the Ash. MB Master Gardener Association Newsletter, January, 2023
  • Singh, P. (2022). Someone’s trash is someone’s treasure-Using industrial waste/by-products as sustainable growing media for horticultural crops. MB Master Gardener Association Newsletter, May 2022

Awards & Honours:

  • Women of Distinction Award - Science, Technology and Trade by Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) (2022)
  • 2020-2021: Teaching Excellence Stellar Award by ACC in recognition of demonstrable success in teaching through COVID-19 pandemic years.
  • 2020: Excellence in Teaching Award by ACC for extraordinary contributions to student excellence.
  • 2019: RAVE Award by ACC for being a dedicated and passionate researcher.
  • 2009: Desh Sewa Rattan Award for contributions to the field of teaching and research in horticulture by Punjab State Sikh Committee, India.
  • 2007: Young Scientist Award by the Punjab Academy of Sciences, India
  • 2007: Best Paper Presentation Award by the Punjab Academy of Sciences, India
  • 2006: Best Paper Presentation Awards by the Indian Science Congress Association, India
  • 2003: Best Scientific Essay Award by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
  • 1999-2002: Senior Research Fellowship Award by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India

Courses recently taught

  • AGRC 0258 Growing Media
  • SCIE 0074 Horticulture Science
  • AGRC 0285 Horticulture Industry
  • AGRC 0283 Food Safety and Security
  • AGRC 0286 Nursery and Ornamental Horticulture
  • AGRC 0276 Growing Media Applications
  • AGRC 0274 Food Systems Applied Research
  • AGRC 0284 Food Security and Sustainability
  • AGRC 0288 The Food Industry
  • PRAC-0263 Practicum – STFDS