Biography

Timothy J. LaSalle, PhD Research Coordinator, Nature Conservation Trust Consultant, HGBF, Conservation Agriculture for Smallholder Holder Farmers Timothy J. LaSalle is leading the smallholder farmer conservation agriculture (CA) research effort for the Howard Buffett Foundation (HGBF) in Limpopo South Africa. Emphasis includes animal powered equipment development for CA, fast soil building practices on poor African soils, and attempts at broadening crops and cover crops that will aid in both food security and soil fertility. He was CEO of the Rodale Institute, an internationally recognized leader in regenerative organic agricultural research, advocacy and education. LaSalle was the first CEO of the non-profit organization, located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1947 by J.I. Rodale to explore the scientific foundation of organic agriculture. Since he began work at the Institute in July 2007, he engaged national and international policy planners on how organic farming can address the global challenges of famine prevention, water shortages, global warming and human nutrition. LaSalle was Executive Director of the Northwest Earth Institute in Portland, Oregon, 2006-2007, that offers discussion courses on sustainability, deep ecology, living in place, and the practice of simplicity for groups and individuals in the across the United States. He served as Interim Executive Director of the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County and from 2003 to 2005 was Executive Director of the Allan Savory Center for Holistic Management, an international non-profit who mission is to restore and regenerate deteriorating landscapes for the people dependent on that land. As President and CEO of the California Agricultural Leadership Program from 1986 to 2003, LaSalle directed a two-year fellowship program that developed leaders in the agricultural industry. From 1974 to 1986 he was a full professor at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) San Luis Obispo, California, where he taught a range of dairy science classes. LaSalle has a Ph.D. in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. He holds a Master’s in Science in Populations Genetics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Bachelor’s in Science from Cal Poly. He has served on many nonprofit boards, committees and leadership groups, including roles with the Kellogg Leadership Alliance and Chaired an International Call to Action on Sustainability at EARTH University in Costa Rica.