Common field; crop demonstrations for climate elasticity

VGN Resources Group Inc. (VGN) will be the Program Administrator for projects under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food's (Ministry) extension programming for environment and climate change.  This RFP and project is administered by VGN on behalf of the Ministry.

With climate change projections showing increasing temperatures, decreasing snowpack and precipitation, increasing variability and extremes, shifting precipitation patterns, and drier summer conditions, crop resiliency will be important. The project described in this RFP is to identify a maximum of ten annual horticultural crops that may perform better than existing crops, while maintaining or increasing profitability.

Phase 1 will be a literature review and interviews with key players. A decision tree will be created to help producers identify which crops they may wish to trial at their location. Phase 2 will include demonstration species selection , identification of host demonstration farms, input acquisition, and development of a protocol and framework for demonstration installation. This was an identified priority for the Highway 16 North Cariboo Regional Extension Committee (REC).

This project will focus on Highway 16 North Cariboo REC area: North Cariboo area, Regional District Fraser Fort George, Regional District Bulkley Nechako and Regional District Kitimat Stikine and North Coast Regional District. Climate projects and agricultural impacts for each region can be found here:

https://www.bcclimatechangeadaptation.ca/regional-adaptation/bulkley-nechako-fraser-fort-george/&nbsp ;

https://www.bcclimatechangeadaptation.ca/regional-adaptation/cariboo/&nbsp ;

The intent is to gather this data through a literature review, and in speaking with experienced growers, industry experts, and academics at least. A decision tree will be created to help producers identify which crops they may wish to trial at their location. Cost of production will be an gathered to determine profitability. Phase 2 will include demonstration species selection , identification of host demonstration farms, input acquisition, and development of a protocol and framework for demonstration installation.

This project may promote the uptake of BMPs by identifying crops that require less water, resulting in the adoption of less intensive water management practices, and the uptake of more efficient irrigation practices.