Research supports on-farm adoption of clean technologies and practices

SOURIS, PE, Aug. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - Farmers know the importance of keeping the land, water and air healthy to sustain their farms from one generation of farm family to the next. They also know that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand.

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay today announced an investment of $895,000 to the East Prince Agri-Environment Association to study the beneficial environmental effects of planting willow trees along river banks, as part of potato growing systems in P.E.I. 

This project with the East Prince Agri-Environment Association is one of 20 new research projects supported by the $27 million Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP), a partnership with universities and conservation groups across Canada. The program supports research into greenhouse gas mitigation practices and technologies that can be adopted on the farm.

Quick facts

• 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.

Quotes

"Canadian farmers are great stewards of the land and the environment. This new investment of $27 million through the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program is 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

"Protecting the industry for future generations is the motivation behind the research partnerships formed by the East Prince Agri-Environment Association. We are very pleased to be working with the Kensington North Watersheds Association, the Souris and Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation and Researchers from Dalhousie University on this important project that will break new ground in promoting GHG mitigation in the agriculture industry."
- Robert Green, Chair, East Prince Agri-Environment Association Inc.

Additional links

• Minister MacAulay's announcement of 20 new AGGP projects (Apr 21, 2017)
• Minister MacAulay's announcement renewing AGGP (Mar. 30, 2016)
• Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program
• Global Research Alliance

 

BACKGROUND

• The 20 new research projects supported by AGGP span from coast-to-coast, from the University of British Columbia to collaborative research with conservation groups in New Brunswick.
• The research project led by the East Prince Agri-Environment Association will study willow buffer systems as a carbon storage sink, helping to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and protecting streams and rivers from nitrogen and phosphorous run-offs.

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

For further information: Guy Gallant, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, 613-773-1059; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972

Related Links

www.agr.gc.ca