“It is a crop that’s very well suited for climate change, in part because you have the wild relatives, which give it options for creating more environmentally resilient cultivars.” – Dr. Loren Rieseberg
Dr. Loren Rieseberg, CSFS associate and professor in UBC’s Department of Botany, commented on how sunflowers are considered one of the more environmentally resilient crops.
Sunflower roots extend twice as deep as those of corn – this allows them more access to water. However, with global warming and less predictable growing conditions, the genetic diversity of its family members is examined to identify evolutionary advantages from their DNA.
Earth Day: How to Take Action + Educational and Indigenous Resources
We are celebrating Earth Day on April 22! Read on for ideas on how to get involved, educational materials, and much more.
Take Action
Are you a student looking to get involved with sustainability initiatives? There are many groups on campus that may suit your interests. From clubs focused on sustainable energy to eliminating food waste, there truly is something for everyone! Browse a listing of organizations.
Want to get involved with CSFS and the UBC Farm? Explore our volunteering opportunities! And find more ways to become a part of the change at earthday.org.
Don’t forget to check out these stories about how UBC researchers are striving towards a sustainable future.
If you are a UBC student, you are eligible to take the for-credit LFS 496 Career Development course. This provides an applied learning experience for those interested in furthering their academic and professional careers – positions are available in agroforestry, regenerative agriculture and more.
In addition, we host the Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture, a 4-6 month experimental learning program created with aspiring farmers, educators, and students in mind. Meet some of our alumni and learn about their unique career journeys!
The CSFS Future of Food Global Dialogue Series presents:
CSFS Associate Seminars
CSFS Associate Seminar: Adaptation and Mitigation: Dual Objectives for Addressing Climate Change in Diversified Agroecosystems
About this Seminar
Intentionally increasing the biological complexity of agroecosystems can enhance ecosystem function. In the context of climate change, this can mean adaptation to changing precipitation and temperature regimes and/or mitigation by sequestering and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. In this seminar, we will discuss how this happens ecologically in diversified agroecosystems and the nuances of assessing these processes for making management decisions. I will draw on examples from research on agroforests in Canada and Ghana. We will also look at new research from organic farming at UBC Farm.
About the Presenter
Dr. Kira Borden is an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems working with the Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes Lab. She is an agroecologist with expertise in plant functional ecology and biogeochemistry. Kira’s research is centered on diversified agroecosystems of small- and medium-scale farms producing a range of crops in temperate and tropical regions. Later this year she will be investigating the belowground mechanisms regulating greenhouse gas emissions from diversified cover cropped fields as a Banting Fellow at the University of Guelph.
Chocolate might melt out of memory if we don’t protect pollinators
News Source: CBC
April 6, 2021
“To support pollinators as spring takes hold, plant pollinator-supporting gardens.” – Dr. Claire Kremen
Dr. Claire Kremen, a professor at UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, says combing the yard for chocolate Easter eggs could one day be a thing of the past if we don’t make a concerted effort to protect pollinators.
Melinda Divers – 2016 Graduate of the Scale Your Progressive Food Business Workshop Series
How would you describe your experience of connecting with other food business entrepreneurs?
Attending Feeding Growth cultivated relationships that I truly value to this day. Not only did I gain connections through attending the classes, but the community connection through the listserv has been invaluable.
If you were to recommend the workshop series to a friend, what would you say?
I would say that if you are planning a business or working on a food-based business, you simply must go through the Feeding Growth workshop series, period! No questions asked! It will save you time, money and trouble. Hands down.
Marc Wandler – 2019 Graduate of the Scale Your Progressive Food Business Workshop Series
How would you describe your experience of connecting with other food business entrepreneurs?
We enjoyed the networking aspect of the program.
If you were to recommend the workshop series to a friend, what would you say?
The workshop is great for anyone starting a food business. Lots of knowledge from industry professionals. You can get some great insight into any aspect of your business which is incredibly valuable.
“Natural enemies that kill spotted wing drosophila may help to slow their growth and, in turn, reduce pressure on crops.” – Dr. Juli Carrillo and research team
Dr. Juli Carrillo, CSFS Associate, has a research write-up on pages 25 and 26 of this Organic Science Canada digital issue (link below). The write-up goes into detail about sustainable management of spotted wing drosophila – these are invasive pests which hinder fruit harvesting. A PhD student in her lab, Warren Wong, took the magazine’s cover photo.
“When I hold seeds that I have helped save in my hands, I feel an indescribable connection to the past, the countless generations of plants that led to this seed, and also a connection to the people who were there every step of the way.” – Evan Goh
Evan Goh, the Perennials and Volunteer Coordinator at the UBC Farm, was interviewed by BC Eco Seed Co-op to detail his unique experiences in seed saving. The interview features tips about seed saving, what first sparked his interest in farming, and much more.
