Guests: Kirsten Hannam, Jesse MacDonald and Hao Xu from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland Research & Development Center

Rapid decline and death of apple and stone fruit trees has been observed in Canada over the last decade. To date, no single pathogen has been identified as the direct cause of these disorders, but researchers believe the “tipping point” in the issue is climate extremes. 

In this episode, host Samantha Charlton is joined by researchers from the Agricultural and Agri-Food Canada in Summerland that have been working with BC tree fruit growers to understand the causes and management solutions for sudden apple decline.  Weakened water transport capacity in the dwarfing rootstocks, particularly at the graft union, combined with extreme heat and drought conditions seem to be major contributing factors. They’ll discuss the multi-disciplinary work needed to find answers, the importance of grower involvement throughout the stages of research and the “toolbox” being developed to help growers better respond to these challenges. 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Summerland Research and Development Centre is on the traditional, unceded territories of theNlaka'pamux and Syilx tmixʷ (Okanagan) Peoples.

Attribution

Producers and interdisciplinary team of researchers find answers on sudden apple decline in the BC Okanagan, Presentation by AAFC Research Scientists, Kirsten Hannam, Jesse MacDonald and Hua Xu © Her Majesty the Queen 2022, licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode

Guests: Dr. Rob Newell, Associate Director, Food and Agriculture Institute, and Dr. Lenore Newman, Canada Research Chair in Food Security and Environment, University of the Fraser Valley

The emerging technologies and techniques of the so-called fourth agricultural revolution, such as vertical and cellular agriculture, could potentially play a powerful role in transitions toward sustainable food systems. These technologies and techniques could support high-yield food production methods, with short supply chains and low environmental footprints, but technology alone does not comprise a sustainable solution. 

Samantha Charlton speaks with Dr. Newell and Dr. Newman about their research that is applying an interdisciplinary lens to understanding, and managing, the sustainability and equity outcomes of new agri-technologies. 

Climate resilience, agricultural land protection, food security, labour, employment, power relations, governance, and animal ethics, there is a lot to consider when evaluating agri-technology. This episode dives into how research can help consider these factors and inform the development and implementation of policies and strategies that take social and cultural implications into account. 

You can learn more research on emerging agricultural technologies at the Food & Agriculture Institute . 

Today’s guests joined us from the University of the Fraser Valley, situated in the traditional territory of the Stó:lō peoples. 

Project funders include SSHRC, Genome BC, Genome Ontario, Future Skills Center and Mitacs. 

Guests: Dr. Jennifer Grenz, Faculty of Forestry and Land & Food Systems, University of British Columbia and Dr. Courtney Mason, Canada Research Chair in Rural Livelihoods and Sustainable Communities, Thompson Rivers University

In this episode, host Samantha Charlton speaks with two of BC’s Indigenous scholars who are working on food and agriculture research. Dr. Jennifer Grenz, an invasive plant ecologist and Nlaka‘pamux woman, has been working to bridge western science with Indigenous ways of knowing. She begins the discussion by illustrating how the Indigenous worldview offers an essential framework for climate adaptation research and action. She is joined by Dr. Courtney Mason whose research on rural livelihoods and sustainable communities intersects with Indigenous health and food sovereignty in BC.

The conversation explores what decolonization of agricultural research can look like and the value of recognizing Indigenous ways of knowing as we seek to build the resiliency of food systems. If you’ve wondered where to start in building relationships with Indigenous research partners and decolonizing the research process this episode will give you some great food for thought on how to start on that journey. 

Two books mentioned in the discussion are Research is Ceremony by Shawn Wilson and Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez.

Dr. Jennifer Grenz joined us from Parksville, ​​the unceded traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as and Stzuminus peoples. Dr. Courtney Mason joined us from Kamloops, located on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory, situated within the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemc Nation.