Agrologists provide professional services in the important areas of food production and safety, environmental health, and soil and water quality.
The agrology profession has received legal authority from the Agrology Profession Act to self-regulate through the mechanism of the Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA), a professional regulatory organization.
In accordance with the Agrology Profession Act, the AIA ensures the competent and ethical practice of agrology in Alberta by establishing, maintaining, and enforcing a code of ethics and standards of registration, practice, and continuing competence, and addressing complaints about professional conduct.
Through the AIA, agrologists receive a practice permit, which is a license to practice the profession.
The self-regulation of agrology is a privilege because it gives agrologists the opportunity to become involved in all aspects of the AIA by serving on the council, committees, and tribunals, and setting and enforcing professional standards. Agrologists share in the government’s responsibility to protect the health and welfare of all who could be affected by professional services. However, the privilege of self-regulation may be revoked if the AIA fails to protect the public. Although the AIA is funded by registration fees, it must serve the public interest, not professional interests.