As found in SIA Regulatory Bylaws, Schedule A

Registered agrologists have an obligation to conduct all business in an ethical manner, and share a moral and legal responsibility to protect the public interest, employers, clients, other registered agrologists, and the profession of agrology.

The profession demands and holds registered agrologists accountable for integrity, competence and objectivity in their conduct as they fulfill their professional responsibilities to protect the public interest, the employer, the client, the profession, and other registered agrologists.

• Act conscientiously and diligently in providing professional services on behalf of the employer or client.
• Maintain the confidentiality of employer or client information unless given explicit consent, except as the law requires.
• Obtain a clear understanding of the employer’s or client’s objectives.
• Inform the employer or client of any action planned or undertaken by the employer or client that registered agrologists believe is detrimental to good stewardship or in breach of known laws or regulations.
• Refuse any assignment that creates a conflict of interest, defined as:
  • Where there is reason to believe that a decision may be unduly influenced by a factor other than what is in the best interest of the employer, client or public; or
  • A situation where the registered agrologist may be tempted to place their private interest above their duty to the employer or client.

• Abstain from undignified or misleading public communication with or about registered agrologists.
• Give credit for professional work to whom credit is due.
• Share knowledge and experience with other registered agrologists, mentor articling and new registered agrologists, and contribute to building a strong network of professionals.

As found in SIA Regulatory Bylaws – Schedule B

The Institute provides minimum general practice standards with which all registered agrologists must comply. More specific practice standards are available for certain scopes and areas of agrology defined in the policies and procedures.

Practice standards represent a minimum level of performance that is used to evaluate the activities of registered agrologists. Practice standards are developed to:

• Ensure safe and ethical practices
• Act as a guide for registered agrologists to the competencies and behaviours required to practise agrology in general and in specific areas
• Provide a way to evaluate and measure the conduct of practice and competencies of registered agrologists against a transparent standard
• Enable registered agrologists to improve their practice
• Promote the role and accountability of registered agrologists to the public interest, other professionals, and peers
• Act as a legal reference to describe reasonable and prudent practice in employment situations and complaints about a registered agrologist when presented to the Professional Conduct Committee or a Court of Law.

These competencies are derived from the Code of Ethics and broadly define the minimum expectations for registered agrologists. All registered agrologists shall:

Integrity

• Act towards other registered agrologists, the public, employers, clients, and other professions, and, in general, with courtesy and good faith.
• Respect social diversity.
• Facilitate an understanding of the practice of agrology.
• Read and be familiar with the Institute’s governance and operational structure and functions.
• Use professional principles, performance management systems and methods relative to the registered agrologist’s area of practice.
• Ensure the registered agrologist’s skills are consistent with the requirements of the specific area of agrology and that the skills are constantly improved and enhanced through continuing professional development.
• Respect contributions by other professionals to the work product.

Competency in Area of Practice

• Only undertake work for which the registered agrologist is competent and qualified.
• Perform due diligence for all work undertaken, including becoming knowledgeable about the work to be performed, the employer or client for whom the work is to be performed, and any resources required to complete the work.
• Maintain and demonstrate knowledge of developments in any area of practice relevant to any services that are undertaken.
• Be aware of changes and issues within the registered agrologist’s area of practice, notify the Registrar and adapt their practice standards as appropriate.
• Demonstrate employer, client, public and environmental sensitivity.
• Clearly communicate to any affected parties the scope of any work undertaken, related priorities and decisions.
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of developments in their area of practice, including any changes to the Practice Standards.
• Employ quality assurance measures where appropriate.
• Evaluate overall project performance on a regular basis to provide confidence that the project will satisfy the relevant quality standards.
• Ensure any individuals, over which the registered agrologist has control, have the appropriate qualifications and competencies.
• Ensure all formal documentation is authenticated by signing, dating and sealing in accordance with The Agrologists Act and SIA’s Bylaws and Policies and Procedures.

Objectivity

• Act fairly to colleagues, clients, employers, subordinates, employees and registered agrologists.
• Recognize and promptly address any issues arising during practice that may affect the satisfactory outcome of any work that has been undertaken.
• Determine if a potential or perceived conflict of interest exists before performing services. If performance of the work can reasonably be foreseen to result in a conflict of interest, the registered agrologist should not conduct the work. If there is a potential or perceived conflict of interest at any time before or during performance of the work, the registered agrolgist must document and inform all involved parties of the conflict.

The Professional Development and Practice Standards Committee shall monitor and review policies, guidelines and procedures, and propose to Council amendments that will promote the practice standards set out in the SIA’s Bylaws.

The Professional Development and Practice Standards Committee shall monitor and review the Institute’s scopes of practice and areas of practice published in the policies and procedures, and define the minimum academic training for each scope and area.

Practice guidelines and procedures shall be at two levels of application as follows:

• General practice standards at a broad level that are applicable to all practice areas. Such standards should be clearly defined with measurable assessment parameters.
• Specific practice standards for those areas deemed to be of significant risk to the profession and/or public. Such standards to encompass at least:
  • Development of a descriptive list of knowledge, skill sets and capabilities required to be proficient in a given scope or area of practice; and
  • Development of specific practice standards that describe what is commonly accepted against which competence in that practice area is to be assessed.