The Climate Challenge
● Research and development is needed now
● Resources are limited
● The problem is long-term, widespread and complex
● Solution really need to be transdisciplinary
Mission
Enhance climate change
adaptation research in the BC
agriculture industry by
promoting the sharing of
research information, expertise,
and resources in the province
ACARN Objectives
1. Strengthen cross-province collaboration and sustain the
network
2. Share research information, expertise and resources
3. Coordinate network research projects
4. Enhance the accessibility of applied research outcomes
5. Train future researchers and outreach specialists
Today’s Agenda: Three Sessions
1. Agricultural extension - better utilizing existing
resources & networks to support climate
adaptation
2. Collaboration to improve baseline data for
agricultural adaptation
3. Opportunities for integrating research across
data sets & disciplines to better guide
agricultural adaptation
Today’s Objectives
● Establish some basic background
● Interact with a diverse group of participants
● Build an understanding of challenges and discuss solutions
● Find synergies among us and start to build on them
Special thanks to:
Serena Black
John Janmaat
Joanne Taylor
Lauren Arnold
Emily MacNair
Jason Lussier
Kirsten Hannam
Shauna MacKinnon
Editor's Notes
We would like to acknowledge that today’s workshop takes place on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan People.
Before we begin we would like to thank the funders of this workshop - all of you who purchased tickets to attend, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the governments of Canada and British Columbia under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
NOW
Producers across the province are facing a wide range of challenges from pests, to water management, to nutrient use
RESOURCES LIMITED
The funding we have access to is limited and generally for short periods. We don’t have a clear system for prioritizing agricultural research efforts, or sharing results. Across the border in Watcom country for example there are 17 people in the Conservation district working on research and extension. Finally climate change is long-term. We need to be concerned how our decisions now will impact our children. Or other people’s children.
COMPLEX
The issues surrounding climate change are complex and will likely require and multi-disciplinary approach.