Environment and Climate Guidebooks for BC Regional Extension Program
As part of BC’s Regional Extension Program, ACARN collaborated with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food to compile producers’ climate priorities, relevant applied research, and extension projects across BC —resulting in seven regional guidebooks.
These guidebooks can help producers, researchers, and consultants reflect on the climate issues challenging environmental sustainability and resilient food production for and local farm businesses.
Berry Workshop: Managing for flood damage, extreme heat and pests
Over the past year, BC has experienced the extremes of the heat dome and catastrophic flooding. These events have left berry growers with many questions both for immediate crop management and long term resilience. This webinar series explored management guidance for flood-impacted berry fields, heat damage, tolerance, and mitigation in berries, and climate change impacts on pest management.
2021 Provincial Workshop
This online workshop explored pressing climate impacts on BC agriculture in 2021. Discussions covered wildfire risk reduction, adaptation strategies, and the role of agriculture in climate mitigation. With insights from researchers, producers, industry leaders, these fostered timely conversation on adaptation strategies, barriers, and opportunities for resilience. Key topics included:
Agricultural Weather Data Network
Between 2019 and 2021, ACARN’s Climate and Weather Data Working Group identified gaps in agricultural weather data availability and explored options for better data and decision aid support tools for agricultural producers. A gap analysis and roadmap were produced from this work and shared in a webinar.
2019 Provincial Workshop
This two-day event brought together B.C. producers and researchers to explore practical and collaborative approaches to agricultural adaptation. The first afternoon focused on producer-led sessions highlighting field-tested practices to improve soil health, store carbon, manage pests and disease, and adapt to changing weather—specifically geared toward tree fruit and wine grape production. The second day centered on building collaborative strategies to support adaptation, with discussions on extension, data sharing, and future research needs.
BC Agriculture and Climate Change Education Series
The BC Agriculture and Climate Change Education Series was created out of a four-part event exploring climate challenges and adaptation strategies in British Columbia’s agricultural sector. Hosted across eight post-secondary institutions in spring 2019, the series included expert presentations, Q&A sessions, and activities designed to bring regional and broader perspectives together.
