$10 million for wetlands partnership
The effectiveness of Canada’s wetlands in helping achieve climate targets is the focus of study and funds.
Wetlands provide habitat for wildlife, filtration for water and play a role in drought protection.
A group of Canadian researchers, including Larry Flanagan and Matthew Bogard from the University of Lethbridge, will study them to learn more about their exact role in combating climate change.
Led by Irena Creed, vice-principal of research and innovation at the University of Toronto, Scarborough, the project will build scientific understanding of wetlands, their function and the services they provide.
Read Also
Alberta crop diversification centres receive funding
$5.2 million of provincial funding pumped into crop diversity research centres
“There’s an assumption that nature is storing carbon to a certain degree, but we need stronger evidence to truly know how effective wetlands are as a nature-based climate solution,” says Creed.
“This work is highly relevant to southern Alberta and the Lethbridge area because wetland protection and restoration is front and centre in many discussions related to sustainable agriculture and watershed management,” says Bogard.
By teaming up, Bogard, an aquatic scientist, and Flanagan, a terrestrial ecologist, will provide a land-to-water picture of wetlands and how they cycle carbon and nutrients.
The project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund.
Soil day scholarship program launched
Heliae Agriculture from Gilbert, Arizona, has established the PhycoTerra World Soil Day Scholarship program to support future agriculture and soil health leaders.
Launched on World Soil Day Dec. 5, the scholarship will recognize three students in the United States and Canada who are completing studies in the soil, crop, or agronomy sciences.
Three scholarship awardees will receive US$5,000 and a trip to Heliae headquarters in Gilbert where they will tour the facilities, speak with soil health experts and learn about the company’s soil health research.
The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian students in their third year of post-secondary studies in plant science, soil science, agronomy, or other related fields.
Students can showcase their passion for soil health and the agriculture industry through a video submission.
Online applications are open until Jan. 31 with winners announced in February.
NFU selects new president
Jenn Pfenning is the incoming president of the National Farmers Union, elected during the organization’s first hybrid convention held in Saskatoon and virtually last month.
Pfenning is a family owner and director of human resources, marketing and operations at Pfenning’s Organic Farm in New Hamburg, Ont.
She is also past-president of the National Farmers Union Local 340 and served on the Foodshare Toronto board of directors for seven years. She served on the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable and is a past-president of the Organic Council of Ontario.
The farmer-led organization also elected the following:
- Bess Vanzandwyk of Montney, B.C., women’s president
- Jessie MacInnis of Lapland, N.S., youth president
- Cheyenne Sundance of Toronto, BIPOC president
- Stewart Wells of Swift Current, Sask., first vice-president (policy)
- Al Birchard of Verwood, Sask., second vice-president (operations)
- Kumari Gurusamy of Ottawa, women’s vice-president
- Maia De Graff of Toronto, youth vice-president
- Jordan River of Borden, Sask., BIPOC vice-president
Motherwell award presented
Karilynn and Ian Marshall from Bowden, Alta., are recipients of the 2022 W.R. Motherwell Award by Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers program.
The couple are Outstanding Young Farmer alumni (2004 Alberta).
Karilynn became the co-chair for the 2008 National OYF event in Calgary. In March of 2010, she was the Alberta OYF regional co-ordinator.
For 10 years she was instrumental in shepherding the Alberta program, from arranging news releases, working with nominees, gathering sponsorship and organizing meetings and the regional competition event.
The Marshalls have also been involved in local groups such as Bow-Inn Beef 4H Club as a leader and Bowden Agriculture Society serving on the executive for 25 years, as well as volunteering at the annual rodeo.
More information is at oyfcanada.com.
