Agricultural Innovation

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Agricultural Innovation

How Good Soil Health Can Improve Crop Yield and Reduce Carbon Emissions The Greenbelt Foundation is working with farming communities to promote soil health through practical solutions that yield economic, environmental, and public health benefits.

Anne Papmehl

T

he Greenbelt Foundation stewards over two million acres of protected natural and agricultural land known as Ontario’s Greenbelt. Extending from the eastern end of the Oak Ridges Moraine to the southern tip of Niagara and Bruce Peninsula in the north, the Greenbelt is vital to providing clean air, fresh water, climate resilience, and a reliable local food source to Ontarians.

About 40 per cent of the Greenbelt is made up of farmland, including two specialty crop areas — the Holland Marsh and the Niagara Tender Fruit and Grape Area. “Agriculture and a robust food system are critical for Ontario and southern Ontario. The Greenbelt serves to protect these important farmlands in urban areas from the pressures of unchecked urban development,” says Edward McDonnell, CEO of the Greenbelt Foundation.

Supporting farmers who grow crops on this rich and fertile land is one of the Greenb elt Fou nd at ion’s key priorities, and the Foundation works toward achieving this goal through farmer-based research, education, and knowledge sharing.

Economic benefits of soil health practices Partnering with key Ontario stakeholders and knowledge leaders, including the University of Guelph, the Foundation

recently produced the Business Case for Soil Health report. It synthesizes current knowledge to build an operational and environmental case for healthy soils that can produce bigger and better crop yields and also benefit the farmers’ profitability.

The report looks at a range of net returns from six different soil health practices: tillage intensity, cover crops, diverse crop rotations, nutrient management, organic amendments, and rotational grazing. “The economics side of these practices haven’t been delved into very much in Ontario and Canada in the last 20 years, so it’s a good starting point, summarizing what we already know from the research,” says Paul Smith, Consultant in Sustainable Agriculture, Environment, and Public Policy.

It’s great to see how this work has been picked up and embraced to a large extent by the agriculture and farming sector, and we’re really looking forward to keeping things moving forward in cooperation with a whole range of partners.

Soil management and regenerative soil practices In addition to helping farmers maintain profitability, good soil management and regenerative practices can also provide environmental benefits to both the farmer and the broader public. “It means improved water quality, less erosion into our streams,

and keeping carbon in the soil, rather than the atmosphere,” says Smith.

Good soil health practices also help to make crops more resilient to extreme we a t he r, l i ke drought, f lood, and longer heat spells. “Obviously, these events are going to have an impact regardless of your soil practices, but when the soil health is good, the impact to the crops is generally less, so the yield will be more consistent yearto-year,” says Smith.

With Ontario’s population expected to continue growing, producing more food while also being better for the environment is an enormous challenge that requires multiple perspectives, especially those of women.

“Women have always been critical on the family farms, but today, their perspectives are valued more than ever,” says Mel Luymes, Founder of Headlands Ag-Enviro.

The response to date to the research and recommendations has been enthusiastic. “It’s great to see how this work has been picked up and embraced to a large extent by the agriculture and farming sector, and we’re really looking forward to keeping things moving forward in co-operation with a whole range of partners,” says McDonnell.

The Greenbelt Foundation’s work moves the crucial conversation forward on the value of soil health for agricultural production and profits, food security, and climate resilience.

Learn more about healthy soils and other benefits the Ontario Greenbelt provides at greenbelt.ca.

This article was supported by the Greenbelt Foundation.

Senior Strategic Account Manager: Anna Sibiga Strategic Account Director: Jessica Golyatov Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Content & Production Manager: Raymond Fan Production Lead: Michael Taylor Designer: Kylie Armishaw Lead Editor: Karthik Talwar Content Strategist: Nicole Kansakar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.

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Canada’s Agriculture Superpowers Taking Innovative Plant-Based Proteins Global The next generation of plant-based food innovation is about making sustainable food products that Canadians will eat not because they should but because they want to. Investment in this sector is set to revolutionize diets across the nation.

D.F. McCourt

Bill Greuel CEO, Protein Industries Canada

Ryan Bracken Co-CEO, Merit Functional Foods

A

rguments that a plant-based diet is better for our health, that it’s better for the environment, and that it’s better for society are easy to come by.

People have been making those arguments in one form or another since the dawn of agriculture. And yet there has always been a limit to the traction that ideological proclamations about diet can gain. Today, in Canada, a new crop of innovators is approaching this old dilemma instead as a technology solution.

In the eyes of Merit Functional Foods and Protein Industries Canada, it’s not so much a question of how we can convince Canadians that they should be eating a more plant-based diet. Instead, it’s a question of how we can deliver plant-based foods that people want to eat more of.

ity of healthy and sustainable foods. “A lot of people today are interested in the idea of eating less meat and having a healthier lifestyle,” says Ryan Bracken, Co-CEO of Merit.

“Unfortunately, what the plant-based food and beverage industry has maybe missed in their rapid launches to meet this perceived demand is the importance of the sensory profile. That’s really where Merit’s mission comes in. What we’re trying to offer food formulators is the next generation of plant-based proteins that enables them to formulate food and beverage products with the unique taste, texture, nutritional, and ultimately sensory equivalence to the meat and dairy they’re trying to replace.”

Better every day: The mind-bending pace of plant-based protein innovation

In evaluating their pea and canola proteins, Bracken’s sights are set firmly on the prize. They're not competing against other plant-based proteins currently on the market, Bracken contends.

Instead, they're aiming to deliver plant-based ingredients that can offer a similar sensory experience as you would get from an animal-based such as whey.

Bridging that gap, of course, is a hugely ambitious technical undertaking requiring significant capital. “The support we got from Protein Industries Canada was much needed,” says Bracken. “We’re a startup playing in a field of giants. You don’t just build a plant-based startup and have full sales from day one. This is a very capital-intensive business that requires patient investors. But, if you look at the long-term benefit for Canada, you’re talking about a Canadian-based source of food ingredients to feed the world and a significant job base that adds value to underlying raw materials that would otherwise have been exported. We’re thankful for the support of Protein Industries Canada in making that possible.”

So, promoting a more plant-based diet as a healthy and sustainable choice for Canada is easy. What’s harder is making that diet approachable and palatable. The Canadian spirit, however, has never shirked a hard but worthwhile task. Plant-based protein innovation within these borders is blazing the trail for a sustainable global future. That’s an investment worth doubling down on.

As the not-for-profit administering the federal government’s $173 million investment in the plant-based Protein Industries Cluster, Protein Industries Canada plays a central role as a facilitator in the collaboration and funding that innovates the future of the Canadian diet. “When we think about innovation in the food sector, we really have to think about it in terms of a value chain,” says Bill Greuel, CEO of Protein Industries Canada. “Innovation starts with advanced crop breeding technologies and genomic research, and it continues all the way to the product that ends up on a consumer’s plate. There’s really interesting innovation happening right now i n conver t i ng pla nt- b a s e d ingredients into new food products. A lot of work is happening on things like using new technologies to recreate whole-muscle cuts of meat or fish. The next generation of food products from this sector will be far beyond what you’ve traditionally seen at the grocery store.”

In Winnipeg, Merit Functional Foods is a rising star in the plant-based ingredients space, with a keen focus on the sensory and experiential qual-

Sustainable foods that make you sayyum

What we’re trying to offer food formulators is the next generation of plant-based proteins that enables them to formulate food and beverage products with the unique taste, texture, nutritional, and ultimately sensory equivalence to the meat and dairy they’re trying to replace.

To learn more, visit proteinindustriescanada.ca.

This article was sponsored by Protein Industries Canada.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BASF CANADA

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High Crop Yields with Lower Inputs Depend on Agricultural Innovation Modern seed technology and disease and pest control tools allow Canadian farmers to produce more high-quality food sustainably with fewer inputs.

Anne Papmehl

C Wayne Barton Manager, Research & Commercial Development, BASF Canada

Patty Vandierendonck Regulatory Affairs Manager, BASF Canada

anadians have questions about food and modern agriculture.

Those are the findings of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, 2022 Public Trust Research. Sixty-nine per cent of respondents indicated that food costs were top of mind, while 50 per cent said they were worried about the global food crisis, and 44 per cent were worried about food safety. Other concerns included the threat of climate change to food security. In a 2019 survey by the same organization, respondents had questions on the use of modern agricultural tools used in crop production, such as pesticides.

Many Canadians may not be aware that plant science innovations and crop protection products developed over the past 40 years have helped Canadian farmers ensure an abundant, low-cost food supply. Using these tools farmers manage disease, insects, and weeds, while also helping to address climate change and sustainability challenges.

Plant breeding alone has driven a 50 per cent increase in crop productivity over the last century — an important factor not only in ensuring domestic food supply but also in Canada’s economy as a major exporter of crops like canola, wheat, and lentils.

Without the use of crop protection products, Canada’s agri-food exports would be $8.5 billion (33 per cent) lower.

Additionally, with the world’s population having recently reached eight billion people and projections indicating a world population of 9.1 billion by 2050, food production will need to rise by 70 per cent between 2005/07 and 2050.

Products designed to support high crop yield and sustainability BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions is a chemical company specializing in providing farmers with innovative products from seed to crop protection to precision agriculture tools. Before any new crop development

product or seed technology is made available to farmers, it undergoes 11 years or more of rigorous research and development. “We have eight research sites across the country in all of the major production areas, and a team of scientists working across those farms to do this research in the field, close to our customers and the communities in which they farm,” says Wayne Barton, Manager of Research and Commercial

We have eight research farms across the country in all of the major production areas, and a team of scientists working across those farms to do this research in the field, close to our customers and the communities in which they farm.

Development at BASF Canada.

BASF’s agricultural tools include chemical or biological products for weed, disease, insect control, and seed technology. Within its chemical and biological portfolio, BASF has developed effective products against pests that also support conservation tillage and no-till farming practices. These practices help not only in improving soil health but also in reducing energy use, saving about 1.2 billion litres of fuel between 1996 and 2018. “Soil erosion through wind and water is reduced with practices such as conservation tillage and no-till. Avoiding multiple trips over the field with tillage equipment, helps to further reduce the carbon footprint,” says Barton.

Similarly, the company’s seed innovation portfolio aims to address sustainability challenges and includes the development of hybrid seeds to better withstand environmental factors like drought, as well as tools such as InVigor® hybrid canola Pod Shatter

Reduction technology that allows for straight cutting, improving yields with reduced equipment emissions.

Intense regulatory evaluation prior to any product launch Prior to product launch, BASF submits all the work done locally and globally by the research team to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) at Health Canada to ensure it meets both local and regulatory standards. “The PMRA represents one of the most rigorous scientific evaluation processes in the world, with more than 300 scientists in areas like chemistry, biology, toxicology, and env ironmenta l fate and ecotoxicology that assess and validate our product claims,” says Patty Vandierendonck, Regulatory Affairs Manager at BASF Canada.

Easing the way for Canadian farmers to reach international markets These intense testing and regulatory protocols help ease the way for Canadian farmers using BASF products to ship their crops to international markets, where they must meet the regulatory requirements of the importing countries. “We want our Canadian growers to stay competitive in that trading market, so BASF works with its global colleagues around the world and regulatory bodies in those countries to ensure that the technology is acceptable there,” says Vandierendonck.

By working to improve yields and reliability of the food supply, modern tools ultimately help to support lower food costs — a key issue for many. “Lots of good things are being done

by Canadian farmers, and we’re trying to make sure our research continues to support them so they can continue to be global leaders in sustainable food

Learn more by visiting agsolutions.ca.

This article was sponsored by BASF Canada.

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Duane Thompson Chair, Canadian Cattle Association’s Environment Committee

Paul Thoroughgood National Manager, Agricultural Sustainability, Ducks Unlimited Canada

Catherine King Vice-President, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, Fertilizer Canada & Board of Directors, Soil Conservation Council of Canada

How we conserve and preserve our soil will decide the future of our country. Soil health is at the crux of climate change, biodiversity, sustainability, and resilience. Eight independent organizations have come together to provide a set of win-win recommendations to safeguard Canada’s soil legacy.

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ociety begins and ends in the dirt. Ancient Rome fell with the depletion of its soil, and the principle still holds today.

Healthy soil is the foundation of our food supply, climate resilience, and biodiversity. It’s the literal underpinning of our cities, forests, farms, and lives. When soil thrives, people prosper. When it falters, the fundamental pillars of a healthy society crumble one by one.

Canada is not Ancient Rome. The needs of our society, the quality of our soil resources, and the conservation tools available to us differ vastly. And yet the lessons are the same. In an era of overwhelming concern about climate change, air quality, and water conservation, it’s easy to forget that one of our most important resources is right beneath our feet. We must understand it and protect it. “It’s not just dirt,” says Jim Tokarchuk, Executive Director of the Soil Conservation Council of Canada. “It’s something much more than that. It’s as fundamental to the life and welfare of Canadians as the air we breathe and the water we drink.”

And so, as Canada grapples with the formulation of the next policy framework for soil health, it’s critical that we perform a complete accounting of our successes, missteps, historical and indigenous knowledge, and goals for the future. To this end, a diverse alliance of stakeholders — including the Soil Conservation Council of Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Canadian Cattle Association, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, CropLife Canada, Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, and Fertilizer Canada — have banded together to provide the Hon. MarieClaude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, a comprehensive set of recommendations across four broad priority focal areas of climate change, biodiversity, sustainability, and resilience.

Climate change: soil as a carbon sink Dr. Justine Taylor Director, Stewardship & Sustainability, CropLife Canada

“Good soil health benefits all of society, from producing healthy foods to storing vast amounts of carbon,” says Duane Thompson, Chair of the Canadian Cattle Association’s Environment Committee.

“Grasslands and grazing systems are the perfect examples of soil conservation, where there are only winners. Wildlife habitat is conserved, carbon is sequestered and stored, and a nutrient-dense food source is created,”

Biodiversity: efficient croplands safeguard nature Cedric MacLeod Executive Director, Canadian Forage & Grassland Association

“Soil conservation is tremendously important from a biodiversity perspective,” says Paul Thoroughgood, National Manager of Agricultural Sustainability at Ducks

D.F. McCourt

Unlimited Canada. “Soil conservation and improving soil health supports increased productivity from our existing agricultural lands. This helps ensure that, as demand for agricultural goods grows, more land doesn’t have to be brought into production. The areas not under agricultural production disproportionately support biodiversity.”

Sustainability: if we deplete the soil, we deplete our future “Canada has a robust agricultural sector that grows healthy, hearty crops for Canadians and people all over the world,” says Catherine King, Vice-President of Communications and Stakeholder Relations for Fertilizer Canada.

“The foundation of our agricultural sector and one of the most important factors to a successful harvest is the soil the crops are grown in.

Healthy soil is rich in nutrients, feeding our food. To ensure Canada’s soil stays healthy, nutrient management is crucial.”

The foundation of our agricultural sector and one of the most important factors to a successful harvest is the soil the crops are grown in. Healthy soil is rich in nutrients, feeding our food. To ensure Canada’s soil stays healthy, nutrient management is crucial.

“Soil is the foundation for all of the food, feed, fuel, and fibre grown around the world,” adds Dr. Justine Taylor, Director of Stewardship and Sustainability for CropLife Canada.

“It’s critical that current and future policies related to sustainability and soil health recognize the importance of innovation, be science-based and be focused on outcomes rather than individual practices. It’s also important that policymakers engage with the agricultural value chain, including farmers, to ensure that any policies are practical and can be reasonably implemented by farmers to achieve improved soil health and long-term sustainability for the industry.”

Resilience: strong soil makes for a strong society “Everybody wins from having grass on the landscape,” says Cedric MacLeod, Executive Director of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association. “Resilient landscapes create habitat for biodiversity, store water

on the landscape, and minimize flooding events to large urban areas. [Former American President Franklin D.] Roosevelt said the nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.

If we don’t have a multisector approach to soil conservation and continued improvements in its health, we run the risk of fading out like other civilizations that failed because they degraded their soils.”

Collaboration thrives when everybody wins Each of these organizations, and the thought leaders within them, are looking at the health of Canada’s soil legacy from different perspectives, with different concerns and priorities at top of mind. And yet, when they come together and set aside their specific agendas and terminologies, they find a broad consensus in their hopes and recommendations for the future of soil conservation in this country.

“The long and short of it is that a diverse bunch of people who’ve been working in each other’s margins for a while sat down and discovered that our needs aren’t all that different,” says Tokarchuk. “What’s good for agriculture can be good for wildlife and vice versa. Every person who took part in this conversation could see very clearly, as our advice to government evolved, that this was a win-win proposition. There is also a win for our federal government in meeting Canada’s national goals in addressing climate change.

We can all see advances and improvements in the environment we work in, if we work together.”

It’s not every day that such diverse interests as those on display here are of a single mind as to the policy direction that will best benefit Canada. So much so, in fact, that they have provided unanimous consent on eight detailed soil health and Read the Eight conservation recommendations for Recommendations in the government across the focal areas Consensus Whitepaper here: of climate change, biodiversity, ag.ducks.ca/ag-framework. sustainability, and resilience in a concise white paper undersigned This article was sponsored by all. When thought leaders of by the Soil Conservation all stripes are speaking with a Council of Canada and single voice on a conservation their partners. issue as existential as soil health, it behooves us to sit up and listen.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SOIL CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF CANADA

Jim Tokarchuk Executive Director, Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Soil Conservation: Where Will We Plant the Seeds of Canada’s Future?