Assessing The Impact Of Restoring Semi-Natural Habitat On Farmland On Agricultural Productivity
Project Leads
Claire Kremen, Co-Principal Investigator
Juli Carrillo, Co-Principal Investigator
Funding
Canada–BC Agri-Innovation Program
About the Project
In collaboration with Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust, the team of researchers at UBC aim to provide evidence that connects restoring semi-natural/natural habitat (i.e. grass margins, native-plant hedgerows, grassland set-asides, etc.) for populations of beneficial insects to positive outcomes in biodiversity, ecosystem services, and farm profitability. In addition to providing local evidence, the findings of this study will contribute to global discussions about how to feed the world sustainably and how to reconcile agricultural land use with biodiversity protection.
Research questions- What kind of pests and beneficial insects are associated with restored semi-natural/natural habitat agricultural lands in Delta, BC?
- Can these restored habitats support or enhance the productivity of these farms?
Researchers will 1. Evaluate invertebrate diversity (abundance and richness) with a specific focus on pest and beneficial insects (i.e. predators and pollinators) in various types of field margins, grassland set-asides and adjacent cropped fields located on agricultural land in Delta, BC, and 2. Assess the impact of these insect populations on crop yields and farm operation profitability (i.e. increase/decrease in total yields, increased/decreased needs for pesticide applications, increased/decreased needs for supplemental pollinators (e.g. honey bee and bumblebee rentals), etc). The project will have a particular focus on production and profitability of blueberry crops.
The goal of this project is to incorporate biodiversity-based techniques on working lands (i.e. farmland, etc.) to support both agriculture and nonhuman species diversity. By quantifying the impact of restoring semi-natural/natural habitat on farmlands on crop yields and profitability, this project will address many concerns local growers have about grass margins, hedgerows and grassland set-asides. The resulting evidence may result in an increase of the total acres of restored semi-natural/natural habitats on farmland throughout Delta and Richmond, BC.