LANDSCAPE OVERVIEW

Canada's north is facing three major issues: growing food insecurity, climate change and carbon concentrations.

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RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• Achieve sustainable local food production in Canada’s north without exacerbating atmospheric carbon concentrations
• Build northern capacity related to food production without repeating historical land use (and cultural) mistakes

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RESEARCH

RESEARCH PLAN 1: BOOTS TO GROUND

• Provide the first agriculture assessments for northern communities under current and future climate scenarios
• Understand where/when climate change will create opportunities or hinder future food production
• We are working w/ communities this summer to implement food production on fire breaks.  Where are other win/wins?

RESEARCH PLAN II: MODELING/ MAPPING
​Main question: Which cells are going to be converted into agricultural activities and for what specific crop?  How will this impact ES?

Three possible approaches (not mutually exclusive):

1. Estimating/modelling the detail physical and chemical properties of soil in each cell through machine learning technique. Combine with climate and infrastructure data, assess the area suitable for specific crop matching the crop requirements.
2. Develop relationships based on agricultural conversions in northern AB and southern NWT in last 20 years. Use this information to project to future conversions.
3. Participatory survey and mapping with all stakeholders. Use this expert opinion to map potential cropping/farming activities.

Agricultural frontiers in total cover about 9.1 million km2 of the planet’s surface. Here, we will explore sustainable development pathways (for different crops and technologies) that will help humanity realize the potential of these frontiers while minimizing negative impacts to other ecosystem services.