GHG emissions & carbon sequestration in Fraser Valley agricultural systems
Discover findings from a pioneering, four-year research initiative examining greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across high-value crop production in British Columbia’s Lower Fraser Valley. This two-part session highlights the impact of beneficial management practices on emissions from potato, pea, bean, and blueberry crops.
This research is part of the five year project, Quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from high value agricultural production systems in British Columbia, and is supported in part by funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
Part 1: BC Vegetable Production
This is the first of two sessions sharing results from one of the first comprehensive studies of GHG emissions in the British Columbia agriculture sector. This session focuses on potato, pea and bean crops grown in the lower Fraser Valley and how a range of beneficial management practices affect greenhouse gas emissions.
About the presenters
Dr. Andy Black is a Professor in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and leads the Biometeorology and Soil Physics Group at UBC, Vancouver. During the past four years, he has led a study, funded by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Program, on the quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from high-value agricultural crops in the Lower Fraser Valley.
Drew Bondar is Executive Director of Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust. Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust is a non-profit organization that was established in the 1990s to address issues of soil degradation and biodiversity loss on farmland in the Fraser River delta. Working in partnership with 35-45 farmers and landowners on an annual basis, DF&WT promotes practices such as the planting of winter cover crops, grassland set-asides and hedgerows to improve soil health and provide on-farm habitat for wildlife.
Ningyu Quan completed her MSc in Soil Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) under the supervision of Dr. Andy Black.
Lewis Fausak is the Applied Biology Education and Research Technician in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. He completed his MSc in Soil Science under the supervision of Dr. Maja Krzic.
Chantel Chizen completed her MSc in Soil Science at UBC under the supervision of Dr. Maja Krzic. Currently, she is a PhD student at the University of Saskatchewan researching soil carbon storage in wetlands that are found in agricultural landscapes.
Dr. Sean Smukler is an associate professor and Chair of Agriculture and Environment in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC.
Part 2: BC Blueberry Production
This is the second of two sessions sharing results from one of the first comprehensive studies of GHG emissions in the British Columbia agriculture sector. This session focuses on blueberry production in the lower Fraser Valley and how a range of beneficial management practices affect greenhouse gas emissions.
About the presenters
Dr. Andy Black is a Professor in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and leads the Biometeorology and Soil Physics Group at UBC, Vancouver. During the past four years, he has led a study, funded by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Program, on the quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from high-value agricultural crops in the Lower Fraser Valley.
Patrick Pow is a PhD student in Soil Science at UBC under the supervision of Dr. Andy Black. Paula R. Porto is a M.Sc. student in Soil Science at UBC, under the supervision of Dr. Sean Smukler.
Dr. Shabtai Bittman, Dr. Derek Hunt and Dr. Aimé Messiga are research scientists at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research station in Agassiz, BC.
Dr. Sean Smukler is an associate professor and Chair of Agriculture and Environment in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC
Part 3: Life Cycle Modelling
Horticulture relies on external inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, and fuel. Shifts in orchard technologies to cut greenhouse gas emissions can alter both input use and related life cycle emissions. This session highlighted life cycle modelling research on bark mulch and water-saving irrigation as strategies to reduce GHG impacts.
About the presenters
Dr. Pelletier is an Assistant Professor, jointly appointed in the Faculties of Arts and Sciences (Biology) and Management at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan. He is an ecological economist and industrial ecologist. His research focuses on developing and applying systems-level modelling tools for sustainability assessment of agricultural systems.
Nicole Bamber is a PhD student with Dr. Pelletier, studying the coupled environmental and nutritional impacts of Canadian field crops. She previously completed her MSc in the same lab on the environmental impacts of bark mulch use on Okanagan apple orchards.
Alyssa Smart is a Master’s student with Dr. Pelletier, comparing the environmental impacts associated with different irrigation technologies and infrastructure in the Okanagan.
