SUMAK

Who We Are?

"Rooted in Resilience"

Our Mission

Provide consulting services for climate change adaptation and mitigation, rooted at the community/parties of interest level and delivered at low cost with practical, actionable, sustainable strategies.

Our Vision

Sumak develops capacities a the individual, community, school and organization levels to promote climate change adaptation and mitigation using participatory and actionable practices

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Competitive advantage:

Local roots: Like Ontario SUMAC, we are hardy, native to the landscape, and resilient.

Global Wisdom: We incorporate the principles of Sumak Kawsay to promote a holistic relationship between people and the land

Our Key Objectives

OUR TEAM:

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Paul Benalcazar, Ph.D

Food Systems Approach. I believe that we can feed the world without endangering nature, and that agronomy is a key engine for development. My diverse background as a researcher, consultant, entrepreneur, and farmer allows me to solve problems from the bottom up, using science to address real, on-farm challenges.

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Cristina Ross, MsC

Environmental Action with a Social Equity Lens I am an Environmental Sustainability Manager dedicated to protecting the present and future through collective change. My work is grounded in the belief that environmental solutions must also support our financial, physical, and mental health.

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Saeedeh Nazari, Ph.D

Agricultural Policy Specialist. I believe food security depends on bridging the gap between academic research and inclusive policy. With over a decade of experience, I believe sustainable systems are only achievable by integrating climate resilience with the lived experiences of farmers and Indigenous communities to ensure long-term impact.

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Jonathan Diaz, PhD

Empowering the Food Sector I believe in the power of education to transform food systems. With a PhD in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Food Science, I have served as a full-time faculty member training future technologists. My expertise covers value-added processing (dairy and cereal), safety and compliance, and food microbiology, with a focus on implementing advanced food preservation methods.

 

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Dely Goicochea, MSc

Communication Expertise: Holding a Master’s in Communication Management (Australia) and certifications from the UK and Canada, we have led diverse strategies across South America, Europe, and Australia for top-tier organizations.

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Paula Ross, Eng

Technology operates.  My approach blends the fundamentals of physical science with a deep understanding of the societal and economic contexts where technology operates. I am driven to create efficient, reliable systems. My goal is to develop technological products and processes that not only meet technical specifications but also serve the communities and industries they power.

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New Team

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Sumac 1024x565

New Team

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Sumac 1024x565

New Team

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