Farmers know the importance of keeping the land, water and air healthy to sustain their farms from one generation to the next. They also know that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand.

"Canadian farmers are great stewards of the land and the environment. These new investments are part of the government's commitment to addressing climate change and ensuring our farmers are world leaders in the use and development of clean and sustainable technology and processes."
- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

 

"Science and innovation will be the greatest allies in helping the agriculture industry to meet the challenges of climate change. Climate change and sustainability are key priorities for the government and this project with the University of British Columbia will help farmers adopt sustainable practices that will strengthen farm businesses and protect the planet."
- Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament (Kelowna — Lake Country)

"We are looking at whether irrigation causes an increase or decrease in the storage of carbon and nitrogen in soil. Irrigation is essential to produce enough food to feed the growing global population, but we do not yet know enough about its effect on soil carbon storage. This study will start to give us a better idea, and hopefully lead to irrigation strategies to help retain more carbon and nitrogen in the soil."
- Dr. Melanie Jones, Professor, University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus

"We are delighted by this opportunity to collaborate with regional partners such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Summerland Research and Development Centre, the Okanagan Basin Water Board, and the Interior Health Authority. Thank you to the Government of Canada for its continued support of ground-breaking agricultural and climate change mitigation research at UBC."
- Deborah Buszard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus

• The AGGP covers four priority areas of research: livestock systems, cropping systems, agricultural water use efficiency and agro-forestry.

• The new AGGP investments will continue to support the work of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, which brings together 47 countries to find ways to grow more food without growing greenhouse gas emissions.

Associated Links

• Minister MacAulay's announcement of 20 new AGGP projects (Apr 21, 2016)
• Minister MacAulay's announcement renewing AGGP (Mar. 30, 2016)
• Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program
• Global Research Alliance

Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059

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