Agricultural Land and Water

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This project investigates the potential for sustainable aquaculture development in Bhutan, a landlocked and low-income country, to meet the rising demand for protein, particularly fish, among its growing population. Despite aquaculture production being currently insignificant in Bhutan, the study suggests that it should expand by 10% annually to address the protein trade deficit. The research highlights the environmental risks associated with global aquaculture, such as water contamination and biodiversity loss, and emphasizes the importance of adopting best management practices. The project explores sustainable development options using circular economy principles, in collaboration with local authorities in Bhutan.

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Green infrastructure can help mitigate urban flooding caused by climate change and urbanization by reducing surface runoff. However, cities like Richmond, with high water tables and poorly drained soils, face challenges in implementing infiltration-based systems. In these areas, stormwater storage infrastructure, such as detention ponds, artificial wetlands, and rainwater harvesting systems, has proven more effective. Richmond's agricultural lands, particularly in East Richmond, also require specialized green infrastructure, such as dry detention ponds, to manage stormwater and prevent land subsidence. Additionally, Richmond needs to upgrade its flood protection system, develop an urban flood model, and monitor groundwater conditions to enhance flood resilience and sustainable stormwater management.

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The result of the increase of sewage production, the treatment of sewage sludge has become an important topic. The predominant sewage sludge treatment methods in China are land application (29.3%), incineration (26.7%), and landfilling (20.1%). Both incineration and landfilling are accompanied by large greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, so land application is becoming a major concern for sewage sludge treatment. This study focused on the feasibility of using sewage sludge to produce biosolids for application as fertilizer on agricultural land in China. This paper provided an integral analysis of the application of biosolids as fertilizer through an extensive literature review. The paper outlined the conditions for the application of biosolids as fertilizer, the factors limiting the use of biosolids as fertilizer, the treatment schemes for sewage sludge, and the methods for detecting contaminants in biosolids. Finally, based on the information collected, this paper provides solutions for the implementation of biosolids as fertilizer in China.

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The issue of water scarcity has been discussed for a long time, and there are many possible solutions offered by scholars and scientists, one of which is rainwater harvesting. Collected rainwater can be a useful water resource for non-potable water needs, to alleviate demands for treated water. It can be used directly on-site, and reduce the costs of supplying treated water for non-potable uses. Rainwater harvesting typically involves installing a simple system to collect and store rainwater from rooftops and other surfaces in a storage container; however, this is frequently used without any calculation of whether the existing surfaces provide sufficient volumes of water to meet demands. As a result, the collected rainwater may not align with demands. This study developed a framework to calculate the size of impervious surfaces needed for specific water use allocations by estimating a water budget. The UBC Farm located at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus, served as a case study for applying the framework. Based on the irrigation needs of the UBC farm, a model was developed to calculate how large an impervious surface is required to supply irrigation water. The benefits and disadvantages of rainwater harvesting were discussed. Rainwater harvesting is a useful strategy capitalizing on local water alternatives to alleviate regional water scarcity and better align water quality to non-potable uses. The author created a rainwater harvesting infographic, available here (Piktochart): https://create.piktochart.com/output/3c97be8653b0-house-blueprint

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Effective flood risk management measures need to be put in place in order to reduce the damages caused by floods. This paper reviews the floodplain map as a flood management tool; while maps are a widely accepted and credible source of information to support community decision-making on flood management, mapping technologies are rapidly evolving and many flood maps in Canada are significantly out of date. As communities (re)assess their floodplain information and management strategies, this document provides an information resource and review of important questions to consider in floodplain mapping. Why are floodplain maps important? What are the different types of floodplain maps, and what types of data are needed for their development? How do land use change and climate change impact the reliability of floodplain maps? Which types of flood maps are the most appropriate to support decisions around different land management concerns/priorities? In addition, this paper presents useful background information for the public, particularly those who are not familiar with flood management. The goal of this paper is to provide information for general public, communities and policy makers to utilize and develop flood management tools prudently, to ensure greater protection from floods.

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Several conventional agricultural management practices, including the over-application of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, contribute to soil and land degradation at a global scale. The result is a reduction in soil fertility, which has led to a decrease in both the quantity and quality of crop production. With the ever-increasing demand for food to feed a growing world population, there is a critical need to support access to nutritious, culturally appropriate, and economically viable foods, while enhancing the soil health of our agroecosystems. Using alternative practices in agricultural production provides a potential solution to the problems associated with soil degradation. Biofertilizers are one alternative with the potential to enhance soil health and achieve higher agricultural productivity. This investigation reviews and synthesizes information on biofertilizers as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers, aiming to reduce their environmental impact and enhance food security. It is designed to inform farmers and government officials in making decisions about adopting biofertilizers.

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Afforestation helps to restore abandoned agricultural and degraded land into productive forests. Abandoned agricultural land and degraded land with improper use can have significant long-term losses of ecosystem function and services. Afforestation establishes a forest community on the land and helps the land recover to continue to provide ecological goods and services. The relationship between the microbial community and afforestation was found to be the most important factor for a successful outcome. Afforestation can increase microbial diversity, and the application of mulches, legumes, and biofertilizers are considered as good methods to adapt the microbe community and promote the success of afforestation. It is recommended that the general procedure for afforestation is by first defining the reference system and then describing a mix-species plantation with native tree species.

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Climate services are the provision of information to support decision-making. Within the agriculture industry, climate services can offer farmers better resources to prepare for or respond to climate variability. These services take many forms including data, in-person collaboration, and evidence-based recommendations. This report presents a review of the current state of global climate services to deliver relevant information for use on the farm. In doing so, it also provides an overview of the current challenges to meet farmers’ needs that exist with both climate data and the explicit recommendations that come from climate service providers. The data collected for this project was obtained by a literature review of global sources to understand what climate services recommendations can be used to address these outstanding challenges, utilizing research and implementation approaches from around the world. In summary, the findings of this research suggest a push towards greater investment in localized climate service operations, which allow climate services providers to better deliver information for more narrow time scales and spatial scales. These localized climate services are more tailored to local communities or specific farmers’ needs. These investments could also provide opportunities for farmers to collect their own weather data for more specific forecasts. Furthermore, this report recommends that climate service providers focus on supporting farmers through variable weather events throughout the season through stronger knowledge transfer approaches, which allow farmers to understand potential sources of uncertainty using these recommendations. Insights from the evaluation of climate services can help support local decision-making – on the farm, within a community and in policy.

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Globally, nationally, and provincially, there has been an acknowledgement of the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples to their territories, traditions, and foods, with an interest in paving a pathway toward reconciliation through Canada’s adoption of the globally founded United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and British Columbia’s implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. The provincial-level act led the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food to work with Indigenous members comprising the recently established British Columbia Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food to enhance the equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples in food systems. The ministry and council have identified a priority to strengthen Indigenous food security, food sovereignty, and build food system resilience to advance Indigenous self-determination, further self-sufficiency, improve resilience to climate change, prioritize the revitalization of cultures, and advance lasting and meaningful reconciliation. There is particular interest in understanding the role Indigenous young people play in meeting this priority due to their perceived vitality among Elders and Indigenous leaders in sustaining food systems for future generations and ensuring food system resilience and cultural continuity. iii The objectives of this paper were to (1) investigate the challenges and opportunities in strengthening Indigenous food security, food sovereignty, and food system resilience within Canada, while assessing the relevance to food system participation of Indigenous young people in British Columbia; and to (2) provide recommendations to the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the British Columbia Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food to aid in their mission to promote Indigenous young people’s equitable, active, and meaningful participation within food systems in British Columbia. The objectives were met through a semi-systematic literature review. This paper intends to lay the foundation for future work that directly engages Indigenous young people in research and decision-making related to food systems in British Columbia.

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Water eutrophication is one of the most serious global issues as water quality and scarcity become more common. Most research, conducted to date, have focused on eutrophication linked with lake, wet land and ocean ecosystems or other zones with little movement of water into and out of the system, largely because algal blooms, which are associated with eutrophication grow quickly water zones where the water. becomes anoxic. In contrast, the river ecosystem is a complex and unique area of concern, in terms of eutrophication moving waters are dynamic systems, with continuous mixing that maintains toxic conditions, not a condition for eutrophication. Although river eutrophication is common in regions dense populations and industries river eutrophication is becoming a more common and serious problem as these regions often rely on the river for potable water. Thus, river water remediated has received little scientific attention and at present the focus has been on either controlling sources of the where pollution is entering the river or by treating the polluted water as an effluent, an expensive alternative, especially in lesser developed countries. However, it is better to control the sources rather to treat the polluted water. The systematic review was conducted to find innovative approaches to resolve this problem. As a case study, the Sutlej River of Punjab, India was selected as a case which is a good example of river eutrophication. The River is experiencing rapid eutrophication as the result of rapid industrialization, and urbanization. The review resulted in three major source sites responsible for affecting the river water. The analysis led to the suggestion that phycoremediation and the application of ecosystem activation system technology could serve as an effective management option to address this serious condition. However, it is important and the responsibility of the state government, the general public, industries, and water management societies to collaborate on this developing issue and to take appropriate actions.

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Agriculture is both a major contributor to climate change and one of the most vulnerable industries to its effects (Blandford and Hassapoyannes, 2018; Lipper et al., 2014). Agriculture, forestry, and land use change are estimated to account for 24% of global GHG emissions (IPCC, 2014). Emissions from animal agriculture are particularly high, contributing 16.5% to global GHG emissions (i.e., 69% of the total agricultural sector) (Twine, 2021). Meanwhile, farmers are inextricably affected by extreme weather events that are exacerbated by the changing climate. To mitigate the GHG emissions contributing to climate change and increase resilience to extreme weather events, farmers and ranchers must adopt climate-smart practices. One versatile tool for mitigating and adapting to climate change is biochar. Biochar is charcoal which is used as a soil amendment or for other environmental management purposes (Lehmann and Joseph, 2015). Its main agricultural benefits include increasing soil water and nutrient holding capacity, remediating contaminants, reducing GHGs and improving soil structure. The organic carbon formed in biochar is highly resistant to decay, lasting for hundreds to thousands of years; thus, producing biochar is a potential method of carbon sequestration (Lehmann and Joseph, 2015). In addition to its use as a soil amendment, integrating biochar into animal agriculture systems has demonstrated several benefits (Graves et al., 2022, Schmidt et al., 2019). Biochar can be integrated into animal agriculture through feeding, bedding, composting, anaerobic digestion, manure slurries and producing biochar with manure. Through these applications, biochar can reduce ammonia, GHGs, and odors while also improving animal health, production efficiencies, and resource circularity. Incorporating biochar into animal agriculture also increases the quality of biochar by inoculating the surfaces and pores with nutrients and microbes (Joseph et al., 2015; Mia et al., 2017). These improved biochars can then be applied to agricultural soils, improving soil health and climate resilience.

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Climate change has become one of the most critical concerns globally today. Evidence includes the increase of surface temperature, the increase of extreme climate events, changes in freshwater availability, the rise of sea level, the decrease of snow cover and ice across the world. In Canada, climate change effects are projected to continue in the future. Agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors to be impacted by climate change. Changes in climate can affect crop yield, livestock health, and economies of countries. On the other hand, agriculture is one of the major contributors to climate change, producing a significant amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are three main GHGs from agricultural crop production and livestock activities, all of which have great warming effects to the atmosphere. Canada has committed to reduce GHG emissions by 40% - 45% below the historical level in 2005 by 2030, and net-zero emission by 2050 (Government of Canada, 2021). Canada’s agriculture is an important part of Canadian economy, which generated 2.1 % of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 (Government of Canada, 2021). British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario are three provinces with distinguished agricultural features. Agriculture plays significant roles in these provinces’ economies. However, agricultural GHG emissions from these regions are also high. Governments should develop relevant policies and encourage more efficient management practices with a focus on reducing GHGs from the agricultural sector. This white paper focuses on the GHG emissions within the farm gate, excluding the emissions from burning of fossil fuel for on-farm machinery and land use/land use change/forestry, while assessing major sources of GHG emissions from various sectors in Canada by provinces and enterprises, and providing recommendations for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

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An analysis of the water supply-demand system was examined to better understand the effects of climate extremes on the Chapman Creek Watershed in the Sunshine Coast and on the Norrish Creek Watershed in the Abbotsford-Mission region. Both regions are facing a challenge where the population is continuing to increase, and climatic changes are becoming more unpredictable. Precipitation, temperature, and discharge data was obtained and used to identify climatic trends for both watersheds. These trends are a direct result of climate change where both Sunshine Coast and Abbotsford-Mission region are experiencing a decrease in summer precipitation, an increase in extreme temperatures, unpredictable changes in streamflow during extreme events, and a decrease in snowpack. There is clear evidence of a shift in earlier snowmelt and earlier spring freshet. These changes and their implications influence the water consumption and the water supply for both watersheds. Both systems are noticing an increased demand for water during the summer where precipitation is low, and temperatures are high. As climatic models continue to predict future trends, both watersheds will require careful management in order to supply enough water and to meet the water demand during peak seasons. Emphasis should be placed on conservation management techniques as this is the most feasible and cost-effective option. It will be crucial to understand the impacts of climate change on the water supply and demand of these smaller communities which may provide future insight into managing larger systems.

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Biosolids have been applied on land for more than a century. It has a high content of organic matter and nutrients and can improve soil quality effectively. In British Columbia, land application of biosolids has become a key solution to deal with land pressure and degradation, and the process is under strict regulations to preserve human and environmental health.

However, biosolids are recovered from wastewater, which means harmful pollutants may still exist in biosolids after standard treatment processes. Although the regulations introduced by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment have mentioned the level of common pollutants in wastewater and biosolids, the emerging organic pollutants researches since the 1970s and the public perception of biosolids have become two major factors hindering the widespread land application of biosolids.

This white paper presents a literature review, stating the properties of emerging organic pollutants and public perception of biosolids land application in British Columbia. In the end, it will provide solutions for the dilemmas to optimize the land application of biosolid outcomes.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT Increasingly, expectations of social, economic, and environmentally conscious solutions are at the forefront of land management discussions. The reality is that conventional segregated approaches are unable to address all opposing resource user’s concerns adequately. Integrated land management, a landscape approach, seeks to rectify this divergence and attempts to accommodate the value and aspiration of all stakeholders into a biophysical public land-use plan. In the Cariboo Regional District of British Columbia, such an attempt occurred, albeit unsuccessfully, increasing tension and distrust between resource users. The potential benefits of such processes are comprehensible in the literature but would realistically require more equitable and sensitive strategies in practice. Simultaneously, a sound scientific foundation is necessary to advocate for environmentally sound practices. On public lands, there is a practical opportunity to harmonize cultural values with ecological protection and development through public lands grazing, especially on landscapes of marginal quality, as the opportunity costs remain low.

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Conventional agriculture has supported the human population but has led to the degradation of agroecosystems. The quality and the health of soil are rapidly deteriorating and becoming less fertile. Current agricultural practice poses threats to the environment causing degradation of water quality, land erosion, risking global food security and harming human health. These places of conventional agriculture are nearly abiotic, fewer and fewer organisms can survive in the soil due to excessive tillage and other inputs such as pesticides and herbicides. Policies, literature and Institutions have a lack of information on the role soil biodiversity plays in soil health and the health of the public. This literature review will discuss this knowledge gap and how soil health and its diversity is the first step towards more sustainable practice. A holistic approach to sustainability would be one through which the alternative practices must protect the environment, be economically viable and socially fair. Economic viability was found to be the main barrier to adopting sustainable practices. Conventional agriculture is organized to a single crude principle, yield, where it may seem like this system is thriving on paper, but it is failing on nearly every other measure, such as the environment and human health that it is trying to sustain. We must start adapting strategies that regenerate the soil and are sustainable and viable for farmers to perform. Soil health and soil biodiversity are defined with their benefits to the agroecosystem and public health. The challenges and benefits of conventional, organic and regenerative agriculture are outlined, including their economic and social viability in their applications to sustainable agriculture.

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This study investigates food waste bioconversion and ascertains whether it could provide a viable livestock protein source to mainstream alternatives such as soy, from both a production and an environmental perspective. The paper analyses bioconversion using insects as a method to refine food waste to produce protein in the United Kingdom examines the resultant reduction in terms of the environmental impact and draws a comparison with the production of soy.

The study suggests that insect feed produced by bioconversion is more environmentally friendly than soy-based animal feed. This is due to the extent of land required for the production of soy and the related deforestation coupled with biodiversity loss associated with farming this crop. However, insect feed requires more energy consumption than soy, potentially leading to an increase in global warming, although this can be mitigated by the use of renewable energy. Emissions savings relating to local insect production rather than soy importation is negligible as food is transported before being categorised as a waste product and then further transported to the insect farms and finally distributed as a product.

The study concludes that insect protein farming is both a viable replacement for soy farming and a more environmentally friendly alternative. However, insect protein farming as an industry is still in its early stages and it requires further innovation and research to determine the full potential of its application both as a food waste processor and as an alternative protein source.

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In British Columbia, climate change is expected to impact life significantly, disrupting natural environments, economies, and the social fabric of communities (BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, 2019; Natural Resources Canada, 2014), and BC is not on track to meet targets for 2030 or 2050 (BC Auditor General, 2018). Drastic reductions in anthropogenic GHG emissions in the near-term will not be enough to prevent dangerous climate change (IPCC, 2018). A growing body of evidence suggests that agricultural soils could play an essential role in climate change mitigation through their capacity to serve as C sinks.

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Changing agricultural land use has impacted field water dynamics, as different crops and management practices have different water requirements. Thus, information is required to assess these changes in field water dynamics and develop strategies to manage water resources more efficiently, including assessment of alternative irrigation systems. Water stress in the Lower Fraser Valley (LFV): the conflict between growing agricultural water consumption demand and limited water resources. The LFV is one of the most densely populated and intensively farmed areas in BC. The unequal temporal distribution of rainfall makes irrigation demand even higher during the crop growing season. Agricultural development in the LFV relies on water resources, but climate change is likely to cause drier and warmer summers and wetter winters[4]. This tends to increase water stress due to the higher demand for irrigation.

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Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) are critical nutrients in limiting the growth of plants and organisms. However, high-level atmospheric N and P can cause adverse effects on the receiving water, air, and soil ecosystems, triggering numerous environmental problems. This study focuses on the state of atmospheric nitrogen and phosphorus in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada, and aims to find primary sources of emissions of nitrogen and phosphorus into the atmosphere. In the study area, there is a total of 25960 tonnes of N emitted into the atmosphere. Both agricultural and urban ecosystems contribute to N emissions. The agricultural emission is approximately 8260 tonnes of N, accounting for 71% of total NH3 emission and 10% of total NOx emission, mainly from fertilizer and manure volatilization and rural fuel combustion. In contrast, the emissions of NOx in the LFV is dominated by the urban ecosystem due to municipal solid waste incineration and fuel combustion. As for P emission, even though there is no robust data to quantify the emission sources, the finding suggests that dust emission and food waste incineration are the main drivers. With the increasing awareness of adverse effects associated with excessive atmospheric N and P, the government in British Columbia should pay more attention to this issue and develop relevant policies and management practices, and encourage more programs to focus on nutrients elimination mitigation.

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Globally, several management practices in Agriculture, such as the application of pesticides/chemicals, inorganic fertilizers, and monocultural practices have contributed to land/soil degradation. This resulted in a loss of soil fertility and ultimately, poor quality of our food crops/plants. As the population of people increases daily, there is a critical need to improve crop productivity (yields) of nutritious, economical, and culturally appropriate food crops and promote healthier soils in our agroecosystem. Recent studies and discoveries have shown that the basis for agriculture, crop production, and human security in the future is healthy soil. Evidence has shown that “alternative” agricultural practices may provide solutions to curb issues surrounding soil and water degradation (FAO, 2015). These practices are adopted to promote healthier soils and can result in increasing crop productivity, greater economic viability, and increased local food security. Major emphasis is placed on ‘regenerative agriculture’ and ‘biostimulation’ as conservation and alternative approaches/management practices improve soil health and agricultural productivity. This paper presents a review and an assessment of regenerative agriculture and plant biostimulation and their potential benefits to soil health and agricultural production. It will summarize and communicate the benefits of these two innovative alternative practices to agriculturists, government officials, and farmers.

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Intensive dairy production in the Lower Fraser Valley is dependent on a reliable source of forages, much of which is supplied from Delta. The land used for forages is economically important within the Agricultural Land Reserve in British Columbia. The project addressed climate change adaptation of Delta’s agricultural sector forage crops by assessing the climate ratings of land suitability, based on the Land Suitability Rating System for the lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve in Delta, B.C. It thereby predicted the effects of future climate change scenarios.

Overall, the climate rating class improved for both legume and grass forages under the climate change scenarios. The limiting factor of climate shifts from heat requirement to moisture requirement through the years. Soil ratings can limit the final land suitability rating under hot dry climate change scenarios. Land suitability assessment and mapping for multiple crops are suggested for future studies for agricultural land use planning purposes.

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Soil plays a significant role within the hydrological cycle by providing a medium for infiltrating water to be stored in the rooting depth and a conduit for groundwater recharge. Effective infiltration and percolation are imperative in agricultural systems to reduce water erosion and maintain soil quality, enhance water use efficiency by storing water in the rooting zone, foster groundwater recharge which may further service domestic and agricultural water users in the region, and to reduce the effects of heavy rainfall events such as flooding. Infiltration is directly influenced by soil compaction which is a concern in agri-food systems. In order to maintain hydrological functions at the farm scale, as well enhance productivity, land managers commonly assess soil compaction in production fields. However, current tools, such as the Soil Compaction Tester (SCT), are not efficient in assessing spatial variability at the farm scale. This project evaluated ground-penetrating radar (GPR) as a method of assessing soil compaction in both cultivated and non-cultivated fields. The GPR results were compared to results from the SCT and soil analysis from core samples. The results demonstrated the potential for GPR as an efficient technique in assessing compaction at the field scale in certain circumstances and soil textures. Further research is recommended in larger scale and more established production systems to test the method’s efficiency in assessing soil compaction and spatial variability.

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The concept of vertical farming has been introduced to improve food safety and production, as well as using less water, land, and other natural resources. This project aims to explore the differences between water demand per unit of production of vertical farming and traditional farming, especially for lettuce. Besides, the various sources of water supply for vertical farming will be listed to see the costs for irrigation in these ways. The approach for the study is based on the BC water calculator and data analysis of local vertical farming lettuce production. Based on conclusions from the research above, advantages, limitations, and challenges of vertical farming can be shown through comparisons with traditional farming.

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It is widely acknowledged that greenhouse gas is the major contributor to global warming. The linkage between the burning of fossil fuels and global warming might be the first to come to mind when talking about global warming. Globally, carbon dioxide emission from the burning of fossil fuels is indeed the top source of greenhouse gas emissions, other types of greenhouse gas emissions are also noteworthy because gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, have much greater warming potential than carbon dioxide.

This study is primarily a summary of the globe’s, Canada’s and British Columbia’s greenhouse gas emissions with a focus on animal agriculture. To have a better understanding of the greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture, a case study of a dairy farm was conducted, focusing on manure management of the farm.

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Globally, there is a growing consensus that we need to act to address food loss and waste. Food waste refers to food intended for consumption that is discarded without being eaten or reaching the market. In Canada, this amount is closer to 40% according to Value Chain Management International (2014). Food loss and waste have many negative economic and environmental impacts. Environmentally, food waste inflicts a host of impacts, including emission of greenhouse gases and inefficient use of water and land, which in turn can lead to diminished natural ecosystems services.

In B.C, approximately 2.3 million tonnes of food waste was disposed of in 2016 (VCM Inc) and Creston Valley being one of the prime agricultural production regions in B.C contributes to this figure. It is suggested that the Creston Valley will continue to be the hub of agriculture in the region of B.C. Fruits and vegetables are one of the largest sources of waste by weight. Much of the wasted weight in fruits and vegetables is water.

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To meet the growing demand for food production, due to the rapidly increasing population, there is a need for sustainable agricultural systems that are economically viable, environmentally safe and socially fair. Social concerns of conventional farming combined with the growing demand for sustainable agriculture and food safety have led to the emergence of alternative agricultural systems. Those emerging innovations and agricultural practices play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable food production systems. One of such innovations is plant biostimulation, which may make existing practices more efficient and sustainable. “Plant biostimulants contain substance(s) and micro-organisms whose function, when applied to plants or the rhizosphere, is to stimulate natural processes to enhance/benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and crop quality.” This paper presents an overview of plant biostimulation, its contribution to sustainable agriculture. Benefits and challenges of biostimulation are outlined, including uses, application in agricultural systems, public perception, global and market analysis.

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From 1902 to 2001, Vancouver’s Arbutus Greenway served as a railway for regional freight and interurban passenger transport service. In March 2016, the City of Vancouver purchased the Arbutus Corridor from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) built this corridor into a greenway.

The overall aim of this study was to provide an evaluation of potential heavy metal contamination along a recently de-commissioned railroad track in Vancouver and a particular section that has a history of small scale raised bed community gardens. This study focuses on Vancouver transportation corridor, the Arbutus Greenway, as a case study. Five random sites were selected in Zone 1 of the Arbutus Greenway. The pH, ash content and heavy metal concentration of the soil were determined. The metals Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were selected as important in relation to human exposure.

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The Hopington AB Aquifer is one of the most vulnerable unconfined aquifers in the lower mainland. It is reported that the Hopington AB aquifer water level is decreasing year by year. The predictive model indicates that these declines are due to excessive extraction, climate change and expected population growth will only accelerate the drop in water tables. In order to address the groundwater quantity issue, a groundwater management plan is needed to regulate and protect the unconfined aquifer.

The overall goal of the project is to determine the water balance of the Hopington Aquifer and its possible impact on streamflow in the Salmon River. The aim is to develop a predictive model to determine the effect of land use activities and water use on the Hopington Aquifer, to show if the aquifer is used in a sustainable manner and to evaluate if changes affect the stream water flow in the Salmon River.

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Ecosystem services such as groundwater recharge play an important role in sustainable management of groundwater resources. The present study was carried out to identify and map zones in the North Lynden Watershed Improvement District (NLWID) that have productive groundwater recharge potential using Geographical Information System (GIS). The NLWID is part of the Fishtrap Creek Watershed, which is faced with land use changes, loss of resource land and farmlands that have the potential to reduce natural recharge of the Sumas-Abbotsford Aquifer. A penetrometer field test was carried out to investigate soil compaction and the relationship between land cover and groundwater recharge potential. The penetrometer field test qualitatively revealed that land cover and the required management practices in addition to the soil types can affect groundwater recharge potential. The results of the study can be used to formulate an efficient groundwater recharge management plan for sustainable utilization of limited groundwater resources.

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Restoration of degraded croplands are needed to ensure the sustainability of rain fed agriculture, and, thus food security, to meet the growing demands for food, fibre and shelter. Unsustainable agricultural techniques, land and water use, and climate change impacts are the main drivers for the degradation of drylands, which has resulted in the decline of ecosystem services, food insecurity, social and political instability. It has reduced ecosystem resilience to climate variability. The typical rehabilitation measures for restoration of degraded agricultural land are achieved through using agronomic and biological techniques, such as crop rotation, agroforestry, cover crops, vegetative filter strips, residue, and zero or reduced tillage.

This study evaluates and provides recommendations for significant gains and successes that have been made by governments, local communities, non-governmental organizations, the scientific and research community, as well as other stakeholders. This project identifies the challenges in the restoration of drylands and suggests recommendations for dryland restoration.

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As the human population continues to increase and land becomes more valuable, a day will come when people cannot completely rely on the produce from conventional farms. This study focuses on the technologies and challenges of adapting vertical farming as a new solution to feed the world’s population and potentially change our food system. The goal of this study is to analyze the theory and the potential of vertical farming in addressing the issues that exist in today’s food system. This study also conducts a comparison between the greenhouse system and vertical farming to determine the differences and the potential benefits behind vertical farming. Finally, to evaluate the feasibility of vertical farming, this study gives an opinion about the challenges to be overcome in this field and defines if vertical farming is a viable option to supply food to cities in an energy efficient and sustainable way.

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Transboundary groundwater issues are of significant importance. The depletion of aquifers is adding pressure to growing water scarcity in many parts of the world; and groundwater quality is being reduced as a consequence of several sources of anthropogenic pollution, which eventually restricts its uses in certain applications.

Future sustainable management of shared resources requires a shift toward holistic cooperation, while strengthening the scientific knowledge available, to effectively inform policy actions. This is particularly important within the Abbotsford – Sumas Aquifer, a Transboundary Aquifer (TBA) system shared by British Columbia and Washington State, USA.

In this paper, a comparative nitrogen budget analysis is conducted on the Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer and includes all major agricultural nitrogen flows. The study compares nitrogen surplus amounts on both sides of the border. This provides an indicator of excess nitrogen that could be leaked into the environment and eventually contribute to the contamination of the aquifer. Furthermore, conceptualizing nitrogen flows at the regional scale within the extent of the aquifer could promote a more effectual design of intervention measures and conjunctive policy creation for the sustainable management of the transboundary Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer.

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There exists a wide range of observable inefficiencies in phosphorus (P) management in current organic agriculture. This paper’s objective is to increase the understanding of P dynamics in order to increase the P efficiency in organic agriculture. As a result of the nutrient imbalances in organically accepted nutrient sources and the high reactiveness of P, the management of P is challenging. One of the major contributors to the P inefficiencies in organic agriculture is the strong focus on meeting plant nitrogen (N) needs. Considering the growing global trend towards organic agriculture, decreasing P inefficiencies is important for both increasing the future sustainability of farms for the efficient use of P sources and decreasing the environmental impacts of organic farms on concerns such as eutrophication.

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The vulnerability of rural communities is a global issue that has been persisting for decades. As development pressures increase and climate change intensifies, these communities are forced to shift their reliance on local resources to imported goods. Due to the low population density of rural areas relative to urban centres, they hold less political power and their needs are often not prioritized by government. As a result, even communities in a resource abundant province such as British Columbia are experiencing food and water security issues. Rural First Nation communities have been particularly vulnerable as they have a history of being marginalized which has impacted their livelihood and decreased their ability to remain resilient to change.

This is a preliminary report intended to explore the main challenges and concerns regarding food security in rural communities in BC from a First Nations perspective. Two communities in BC’s interior were selected and visited. The first was Lytton First Nations and the second organization was Esh-Kn-Am Cultural Resources Management Services, which represents three different First Nations bands. There was greater focus placed on Esh-Kn-Am as they expressed more concern than the Lytton community in regard to their local food security.

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Cooks Ferry Indian Band at Spences Bridge, like many rural communities, is experiencing major challenges in maintaining a viable socio-economic future due to urbanization and population dynamics. Dependence on a limited range of economic bases such as agriculture, mining, forestry, fishing and recreation ties opportunities for employment to the success of these industries. The migration of skilled people and notably younger generations, to urban centers has resulted in a decline of human resources. There has been little attention given to developing a community-based resources inventory to guide communities as they seek to incorporate emergent and innovative opportunities. The utilization of a computer-based land capability classification framework is a first step in providing an ecological base for resources planning and development.

There is concern regarding the loss of ecosystem goods and services as a result of land use changes, such as the expansion and intensification of agricultural activities. Assessments of these interactions require innovative analyses that combine qualitative and quantitative economic analyses. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework was applied to a peri-urban region in British Columbia to assess the effects of the integration of agricultural programs and the maintenance of waterfowl habitat located on the Pacific Flyway.

The Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust, a non-governmental organization, has implemented several activities to enhance eco-system goods and services by cooperative programs among the agricultural community and wildlife interests. The successful collaborative framework has resulted in enhanced soil quality, increased biodiversity, and the maintenance of valuable agriculture and waterfowl habitat.

Cranberries are known to have beneficial health effects but there is a limited supply to meet local markets. As the demand for organic foods expands, interest in exploring organic cranberry production in British Columbia rises. Commercial cranberry production in British Columbia is well documented, but there is little information about the feasibility of growing organic cranberries.

This study focused on the economic feasibility and challenges of growing organic cranberries in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia, the major producing region for cranberries in the province. The feasibility evaluation was based on three scenarios: a) growing cranberries on a field that has not been cultivated before; b) transitioning a field from conventional to organic cranberries; c) transitioning from an organic crop to organic cranberries. This study integrated information from industry experts, local organic cranberry growers, researchers and academics. A financial analysis was conducted to provide an assessment of the economic feasibility of initiating organic cranberry production. A financial model, based on a 15-year time frame, was developed to be used by growers. The model projected that an economic break-even time of 7-14 years could be achieved.

The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) was originally established with the goal of protecting prime agricultural soils from being lost to urbanization and other development in the province of British Columbia. However, there are a wide array of activities that are permitted in the ALR such as the construction of greenhouses, crop and dairy barns, estate-sized homes, roads, and commercial facilities that permanently seal the soil with impervious surfaces and take the soil out of production.

The objective of this study was to estimate the extent of impervious surface area in the Metro Vancouver ALR in order to analyze the impacts on the hydrologic cycle and to quantify the amount of arable agricultural land that is taken out of production, based on the Soil Capability for Agriculture classification. The information in this report is useful in developing watershed protection strategies and assisting policy makers in making land use decisions to protect the long term integrity of the ALR and soil-based agriculture.

View the article in the Agricultural Sciences Journal

Aggregate extraction in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada, has affected the soil water storage of the Pepin Creek watershed. Although local government has set regulations for aggregate extraction projects to avoid negative environmental impacts, the gradual loss of soil materials and associated changes in vegetative cover has led to an alteration of the water balance within the watershed, which may affect surface or groundwater levels, and aquatic habitats. The study assessed the effects of aggregate extraction on the water storage of the Pepin Creek watershed and estimated that 25% of the surface area of the Canadian portion of the watershed has been affected by aggregate mining with an estimated loss of water storage of 10%. Evapotranspiration has decreased as a result of the removal of the vegetative cover. Precipitation has remained relatively constant over the study period but the annual discharge measured at Pepin Creek has decreased. Recommendations for enhancing environmental monitoring to better measure and understand ecological functions of the watershed during aggregate extraction are provided.

View article in Scientific Researcher – An Academic Publisher

Alternative water resources, like rainwater harvesting, are under-utilized yet offer a decentralized approach that can increase the reliability and resiliency of urban water supplies, particularly for urban agricultural production. By exploring alternative approaches to water use and distribution, urban areas can decrease their dependency on large scale water systems and avoid the risks associated with centralized water supplies. Now is the time to start planning for a more unpredictable future in a way that mitigates the adversity linked with these events. The Homegrown Rainwater Model was designed and developed to help small scale growers determine the feasibility of installing a rainwater system at a site. The model design is based on three different steps to help users fully understand the potential system requirements that work best for each individual situation. The model predicts a specific location’s water supply and demand based on easily accessible information such as local precipitation, air temperature and irrigated area.

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Managing water quantity and quality in the Metro Vancouver region is an ongoing challenge under seasonal periods of water stress, particularly in the agricultural sector, a primary water consumer. Poor or absent regulation and monitoring of groundwater and surface water use in agriculture severely limits the capacity to assess water reserves and consumption and strategically manage water resources. This creates uncertainty regarding future water availability and risk within the agricultural sector. Improving our understanding of irrigation demand for agricultural production is a crucial step toward strategically managing the water resources upon which the agricultural industry depends.

This investigation aims to address this concern by using the Agricultural Water Demand Model, as developed by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, for Metro Vancouver (AWDM) as a comparative assessment tool. The AWDM is used to investigate irrigation demand within Metro Vancouver’s Agricultural Land Reserve in order to inform policy makers with regards to water management.

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Conflict over resources is particularly problematic in peri-urban areas where urban and rural development relies on the same land and water resource systems. Peri-urban agriculture is a valuable form of agriculture that provides environmental, recreational, and food security benefits to urban areas. However, urban competition for land and water and a lack of system-based planning has led to the fragmentation of arable land, stressed water systems, and a consequent decline in the potential for peri-urban agricultural production.

This project uses the city of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada as a case study for developing a regional, system-based strategy for increasing peri-urban agricultural productivity. The strategy focuses on integrating the management of geographically-fixed soil resources with water resources that flow through time and space. A water chain analysis and a water resource suitability assessment reveal that opportunities, vulnerabilities, and inefficiencies exist within Surrey’s water system. These results are applied using a holistic decision-making framework in order to demonstrate how alternative water harvesting and cropping opportunities may be developed and inform the directions for policy.

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There is growing interest in the West Kootenay region to increase and support agricultural activity while recent changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) are reinvigorating the question of farmland protection. This study assesses the agricultural potential of the West Kootenay for fruit, vegetable and grain production with climate change using a land and climate based analysis. The approach includes: Quantifying the amount of agricultural land in the region and identifying its location using the Canada Land Inventory’s Soil Capability for Agriculture Classifications; Assessing the range of climate projections for 2050 and their significant for agricultural potential using Global Climate Model scenarios; Summarizing current agricultural activity in the region using the 2011 Canada Agricultural Census; Exploring the suitability of crops for specific areas. This study addresses issues of food security and resiliency from a land based perspective and the role of the ALR in protecting agricultural land.

Article published in Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development