Isabelle Roth is a fourth-year student in the Natural Resources Conservation program – Science and Management major at UBC Forestry. This summer, Isabelle is working as a Summer Seed Associate at Bayer CropScience.
She shares her experience thus far, how her time and coursework at UBC Forestry have prepared her for this role and what she has been working on this summer!
As a Summer Seed Associate at Bayer CropScience in Cranbrook, I’ve developed a wide range of skills related to sustainable agriculture. My main responsibilities include maintaining drip irrigation systems, managing the quality of various canola varieties, supporting soil fertility, and conducting field assessments to monitor crop health.
This role has shown me how closely forestry and conservation connect with sustainable agriculture—through work in soil analysis, plant biology, data collection, and species identification. It’s also given me the chance to explore a diverse range of ecosystems throughout the East Kootenays.
One of the highlights of my summer has been working with leafcutter bees to enhance pollination across our fields, as well as installing soil and atmospheric sensors to monitor changing field conditions. Another favourite part has been operating heavy-duty farm equipment and driving tractors—getting hands-on experience with the machinery that makes large-scale agriculture possible.
Bayer CropScience’s motto, “Health for all, hunger for none,” reflects the meaningful impact this work can have, and I’m grateful to be part of an effort that contributes to more sustainable and resilient food systems.
