Glacier FarmMedia – A “durable” net zero farming system may be unattainable without a broad re-think of the sector, and that will require broad social buy-in, says an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher. “This is a much bigger question than simply developing practices and encouraging adoption,” says Henry Janzen. “This involves the rest of us.” […] Read more
Tag Archives Sustainable agriculture — page 2
Net-zero farming requires wide social buy-in
A systemic re-think of farming is needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but impetus and support must come from inside and outside the sector
Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Program application window opens
The program provides increase federal-provincial funding to farmers
Applications have opened for the new federal-provincial $1.7 billion agri-food sector support program – Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (S-CAP). Nationally, S-CAP will invest $3.5 billion over five years starting April 1, 2023. It replaces the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Lisa Thompson, Ontario minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, highlighted it provides $569 million in new […] Read more
Will China be able to feed itself sustainably?
What the country’s food security strategy means for global hunger and stability
As the world’s largest net importer of food, China will play a very significant role in global food security. According to a new research report “Linking global food security with China’s food security” from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), how the country of 1.5 billion people pursues its own food security policy will have […] Read more
Editorial: Shaping a new green revolution
The term ‘green revolution’ was first coined in 1968 by William S. Gaud, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, to reflect the technology transfer initiatives that led to increased crop yields and production after the Second World War. By the late 1960s, farmers in developed countries had adopted and incorporated high-yielding varieties of […] Read more
Canada moves to develop sustainable agriculture strategy
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture will co-chair the committee
Glacier FarmMedia – Work has begun on a national strategy to position Canadian agriculture as a world leader in sustainability. Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced Dec. 12 the launch of online consultations and an advisory committee to develop the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy. This was formerly referred to as the Green Agricultural Plan. The Canadian […] Read more
Economic impact and funding shortfall of RMP/SDRM programs
The Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) released results of a new study examining the economic impact that Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) and Self-Directed Risk Management Program (SDRM) have on Ontario farms, farm production and the broader Ontario economy. Highlights of the study include: Every dollar spent on RMP/SDRM leads to $2.01 – $3.60 return […] Read more
New professorship to lead teaching and research in sustainable cropping
The Ontario Agricultural College chairholder will be supported by a $2 million gift from the Pick family
A newly-funded faculty chair at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) will be focused on growing food crops more efficiently while maintaining soil health. Recruitment of the Martin and Denise Pick Family Chair in Sustainable Cropping Systems is underway and the position will be supported by a $2 million gift from the Pick […] Read more
Survey says: Latest census of ag shows farms getting bigger, more valuable
Canada’s most recent agriculture census reveals that farms are getting larger, and larger farms are netting the majority of total revenue. On May 11, Statistics Canada began releasing data from its 2021 Census of Agriculture. This first instalment, which focuses on farm and farm operator data, shows that trends identified in previous census cycles (the […] Read more
Watershed studies trickle down, but slowly
Vermont researchers testing flows from tens of thousands of acres in on-farm research program
Joshua Faulkner is a firm believer in the power of on-farm research to influence policymakers and agricultural practices. As program co-ordinator for the University of Vermont Extension Center for Sustainable Agriculture Farming and Climate Change, he says multiple-scale monitoring, evaluation and modelling from paired watershed studies and small-scale plots could guide state and federal policy […] Read more
Ag ministers set priorities for next policy framework
Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture have agreed that investment in environmental and economic sustainability will help position Canadian farmers and food processors as leaders in sustainable agriculture up to 2028. The annual FPT meeting was held in Guelph Nov. 8-10. Discussions focused on how the upcoming agriculture policy framework update could position […] Read more
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