UM receives $7.6 million to develop solutions towards sustainable agriculture

UM researcher and project lead, Dr. Martin Entz, Jarislowsky Chair in Natural Systems Agriculture for Climate Solutions, and team have received a NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Grant to study net-zero farming systems.

The grant will provide $7.6 million over four years to support the Canadian agriculture sector by identifying strategies to enhance economic competitiveness, promote food security, environmental stewardship and innovation in a net-zero economy.

The project will bring together stakeholders in agriculture, environmental stewardship, First Nations and academia to amplify their collective efforts and meet the sustainable agriculture production targets in Canada. Each partner has delineated potential net zero pathways to agricultural sustainability that will be studied by the team. Cutting edge production practices using comprehensive farm modeling tools will allow researchers to track progress and explore diverse net-zero scenarios to address gaps and support the goal of reducing emissions.

Entz has spent more than three decades focusing on ecologically integrated farming systems at Canada’s longest running organic-conventional farming systems comparison study; the Glenlea Long-Term Rotation Study. His natural systems agriculture research program explores cropping systems based on processes found on the Canadian prairie and within natural grassland ecosystems. Entz also collaborates with other experts on numerous nature-based agricultural research aimed at food security and ecological restoration in East Africa, Asia and Central America. Entz’s work has meant he consistently works closely with producers and farmers, helping guide crop diversity to improve soil health and crop production in a sustainable way.

“This project would not be possible without the spectrum of our research collaborators and partner organizations, all of whom are approaching this challenge with a commitment to developing practices that not only reduce impact but also build resilience into our food production systems,” said Entz. “Working together, partners, trainees, farmers and researchers will advance profitable, net zero agriculture in a participatory, dynamic and democratic manner, yielding crucial information to policy-makers and business leaders and preparing Canada for the uncertainty of climate change.” 

This collaborative research project aligns with Canada’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2030 and will help foster growth by training the next generation of sustainable agriculture champions.

“This visionary project allows researchers to work toward common goals that will bring their expertise together to reimagine net zero farming systems for climate change adaptation,” said Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice President (Research and International). “By collaborating with producers and academic experts, different perspectives can help find solutions for sustainable agriculture in the future. Partnerships funded by NSERC Alliance grants provide excellent opportunities for large scale sustainable change in Canada.”

This grant was awarded through the NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative (SARI), a joint initiative between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

 A full list of project partners is available below.

 Melissa Arcand, Associate Professor, Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan

Nasem Badreldin, Assistant Professor, Soil Science, University of Manitoba

Matthew G. Bakker, Assistant Professor, Microbiology, University of Manitoba

Kyle Bobiwash, Assistant Professor, Entomology, University of Manitoba

Maryse Bourgault, Assistant Professor, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan

Douglas J. Cattani, Associate Professor, Plant Science, University of Manitoba

Alejandro Costamagna, Associate Professor, Entomology, University of Manitoba

Marcos R. Cunha-Cordeiro, Assistant Professor, Animal Science, University of Manitoba

Henrique Da Ros Carvalho, Assistant Professor, Soil Science, University of Manitoba

Xiaopeng Gao, Assistant Professor, Soil Science, University of Manitoba

Jason Gibbs, Associate Professor, Entomology, University of Manitoba

Robert H. Gulden, Professor, Plant Science, University of Manitoba

Meagan King, Assistant Professor, Animal Science, University of Manitoba

Yvonne Lawley, Associate Professor, Plant Science, University of Manitoba

Afua Mante, Assistant Professor, Soil Science, University of Manitoba

Kimberly H. Ominski, Professor, Animal Science, University of Manitoba

Joanne R. Thiessen Martens, Assistant Professor, Soil Science, University of Manitoba

Collabs- Briana Hagen, University of Guelph

Roland Kröbel, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Find out more about the project and Leveraging Ecosystems to transform Agriculture on the Prairies (LEAP).

UM Today Staff