Agro-ecosystem resilience

Successful solutions

  • Evaluated, improved and propagated over 50 tree and shrub species; genetic collection for breeding, climate change adaptation and preservation.
  • Developed riparian buffers to protect fish habitat from agricultural chemical run-off.
  • Improved fertilizer management techniques (fertilizer rates, timing, nutrient sources, and application methods) that enhance grain yield and protein content, minimize GHG emissions, and maximize economic returns.
  • Developed minimum and zero tillage practices (cereals, oilseeds and pulses) that increase yields, conserve soil moisture, enhance soil organic matter and soil carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gases, protect soils from wind and water erosion, and increase energy use efficiency and economic returns.
  • Developed methods to conserve surface crop residue, to protect soil from erosion, increase soil water conservation (snow trapping), and maintain/enhance soil organic matter and environmental sustainability.
  • Developed and validated soil and crop models and decision-support systems for the Prairies.
  • Used long-term-rotation plots to assess sustainable production, GHG emissions, net returns/risk and energy use, and the impacts of climate change; influenced Canadian GHG reduction targets/international negotiations.