Brr! December may be cold, but we have some warm and happy news – After completing phase one and two of the application process for the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs (ACS-LL) program, IAF is excited to announce Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has funded our multi-commodity application to the ACS-LL program! The extensive application process provided lots of insight into some of the climate change-related research happening relating to BC agriculture and we are looking forward to delivering a Living Lab in BC to continue this important research.

ACS-LL supports practical, iterative, and collaborative innovation on farms and ranches. The goal is to increase the adoption of effective practices and technologies, supported by research, that help farmers respond to climate change mitigation and improve the natural environment.

“This is a great achievement for agriculture in BC,” said Jack DeWit, Chair, IAF Board of Directors. “IAF has been actively working with producers, farm associations, scientists, research groups and other sectoral stakeholders to develop this project and we now have the BC Living Lab to further our climate change mitigation goals.”

As part of the ACS-LL program, the BC Living Lab will build off existing work and resources from our sector to develop practices and share information that will truly benefit BC farmers and ranchers. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure BC farms remain economically viable and that our water, air, and soil are sustainable for generations to come.

Stay tuned for more information coming Fall 2023! IAF will be working with industry associations, academic institutions, federal and provincial government staff along with our partners to begin refining and implementing project work.

Partners of the BC Living Lab include:

• BC Agricultural Climate Adaptation Research Network
• BC Blueberry Council
• BC Cattlemen’s Association
• BC Cherry Association
• BC Dairy Association
• BC Forage Council
• BC Fruit Growers’ Association
• BC Potato & Vegetable Growers’ Association
• BC Wine Grape Council
• Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust
• Raspberry Industry Development Council
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of British Columbia
• University of Northern British Columbia

IAF is grateful to have the BC Agriculture Council as a key partner in the project and looks forward to strengthening relationships across the sector as the living lab gets underway.

To learn more about ASC-LL, read the news release in IAF’s website.

The BC Living Lab is a producer-centric research and development project focused on climate change mitigation practices that benefit the environment while meeting farmers’ needs. This is a collaborative project being undertaken by IAF and key partners in the BC agriculture sector.

Practices being developed increase the amount of carbon that can be stored in soil or reduce the greenhouse gases generated during agricultural production. The project started in Summer 2022 and will continue until March 2027.

For more information about the Agricultural Climate Solutions: BC Living Lab Program: www.bclivinglab.ca

Agricultural Climate Solutions is a multi-stream program that will help to develop and implement farming practices to tackle climate change. Through agricultural practices, such as shelterbelts or cover crops, farmland can store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs is a $185 million, 10-year program that aims to establish a strong Canada-wide network of regional collaborations led by farmers and including scientists and other sectoral stakeholders. Together, they will develop and share natural solutions and farming practices to ensure farms remain competitive and that our water, air, and soil are sustainable for generations to come.

To be eligible for ACS-LL, applicants must form a large network of partnerships within a province, including agricultural non-profits, Indigenous organizations, and environmental groups.

Learn more at https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agriculture-and-environment/agricultural-climate-solutions