Andre Hucq, Ph.DCentre for Studies in Agriculture, Law and the Environment(CSALE)University of Saskatchewan
AGROFORESTRY NETWORK MEETING, Ottawa24th September, 2001
Web Sites
PowerPoint Presentation:www.usask.ca/agriculture/caedac/pubs/NSERC.ppt
Draft letter to NSERC:www.usask.ca/agriculture/caedac/pubs/nserc1.pdf
Report to the Dean of Agriculture:http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/caedac/pubs/Dean.PDF
NSERC:www.nserc.ca/guide/b2_e.htm
Andre Hucq:[email protected]
NSERC Network Application
UofS SERM, SAF, SRC, PFRA Guelph, UofA CFSAgWest Biotech
Format of Presentation
NSERCNETWORKPARTNERSHIPMANAGEMENT AGROFORESTRY
A Network
The National Afforestation and Agroforestry Research Network
Comprising:Universities;Government;Private Industry;Land owners (farmers; First Nations; Others).
A Definition
Agroforestry comprises all land-use systems and practices in which woody perennials are intentionally grown on the same land unit as crops and/or animals.
Shelterbelts; Riparian forest buffers; Alley cropping; Silvopasture; Forest farming; Block plantations
Why Agroforestry?
Economic sense (so far, numbers look good);Poor prospects for agriculture;Rural revitalization;Provide for future national wood supply;GHG (Kyoto commitments, credits, etc.);Income for First Nations;Diversification;Environment
Afforestation(In the context of the NSERC Application)
Afforestation is the intentional planting of trees for commercial or industrial purposes on agricultural land that has not previously had trees or where the trees have been removed for agricultural purposes.
Agroforestry
Agroforestry represents the use of these trees within a systems approach such as silvopasture, fiber supply allocation, companion planting and phyto/bioremediation. Agroforestry combines agriculture and forestry through a set of guidelines formulated to create a more integrated, diverse and sustainable land-use system.
Institutional Interest (to date)
afforestation (within the context of this letter) and agroforestry represent neither forestry nor
agriculture per se but are fully-fledged entities of their own that includes guidelines and principles
drawn from both forestry and agriculture but within their own physical, economic, scientific and technical framework. For this reason, few
Canadian academic institutions have researched this topic to any degree.
Economics (Simplified)
Several fixed and variable inputs are combined to produce at least two products. Quantities (and type) of all outputs can be varied by deliberate management decisions. Add trees to the land so long as the benefits from each additional tree are greater than the benefits forgone from what that tree is replacing.
Why a network?
Centre has some negative connotation;Interdisciplinary nature of work;Difficulty/complexity of task;Coordination of task – reduced duplication;Access to large database;Sharing data and information;Open internal/external communication;Piggy back on existing work;U.S. already far ahead
NSERC (1)
NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) is the national instrument for making strategic investments in Canada's capability in science and technology.
NSERC (2)
NSERC supports both basic university research through research grants and project research through partnerships of universities with industry, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people in both areas.
Research Networks (1)
The Research Networks program funds large-scale, complex research proposals that involve multi-sectoral collaborations on a common research theme and that demonstrate the added advantages of a networking approach.
Research Networks (2)
A management structure is required to direct, manage, and integrate the activities of the network. Research Networks normally require in excess of $500,000 annually from NSERC.
Goals of Network (1)The objectives of the National Afforestation and
Agroforestry Research Network are:
To foster the creation of knowledge and expertise that can most effectively be attained through large-scale multidisciplinary research projects;
To foster the collaboration between university-and college-based researchers and other sectors;
To foster the transfer of knowledge and expertise to Canadian-based organizations;
Goals of Network (2)
To foster the training of qualified personnel;
To provide economic benefits to Canada,
To further the advance of knowledge;
To develop a sound and vibrant agroforestry infrastructure throughout Canada.
INPUT MARKET LAND OWNERSLAND OWNERS OUTPUT MARKET
Agroforestry Network
ResearchExtensionEducationPromotion (Marketing)NetworkingThe creation of an industrial infrastructure based on agroforestry.
Goals
Grow from within;Strong extension component;Strong networking;Equal partners;Federal + Provincial;Industry, government, farmers and other land owners;
Universities (1)
Agroforestry Research
Minnesota (The Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management –CINRAM);
Wisconsin (The William F. Heckrodt Program of Excellence for Fiber Crop Development and Utilization);
Florida (Georgia, Alabama, Virgin Island): Centre for Sub-Tropical Agroforestry);
Universities (2)
Agroforestry (cont.)
Missouri - Center for Agroforestry;
Nebraska – US National Agroforestry Centre;
Oregon;
Washington State;
Guelph;
Universities (3)
Forestry
UBC
Laval
Alberta
Universities (4)
Agriculture
UofS
Guelph
Laval
Network Management
The network would comprise three levels:
The Regional Level;
The Canadian Level, and;
The North American Level.
electricity
GHG
tree species
other
silvopasture
food
ethanolpulp/paper
engineeredwood
products
RESEARCH
INSTITUTIONS
DISCIPLINES
soil animalscience
plant/horticulture
engineering laweconomics bio-technology
other
NORTH AMERICAN
NATIONAL
PROVINCIAL
CSALE SRC
NRCAN
DU
AAFC
UBC
LAVALU.
ENV.CANADA
U OFGUELPH
U OF S&
CAN.PARTNERS
U OFNEBRASKA
USDA
U OFMISSOURI
U OFFLORIDA
U OFMINN.
U OFWISC.
OTHER
Institutions:The Regional Level Example
The Western Level
UofS, UofA, UofM, SAF, SERM, PFRA, SRC, FSIN
The Eastern Level Guelph, Canadian Universities Other Institutional
Institutions:The Canadian Level
NRCANDUAAFCForest 20/20Environment CanadaCanadian Universities
Institutions:The North American Level
Linking Canadian network with U.S. Universities.
Some Saskatchewan Initiatives
The Agroforestry Opportunities Team of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food;
The Agroforestry Teaching and Research Development Committee established by the Dean, College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan;
Saskatchewan Agroforestry Course Development Committee, Cumberland College.
Poplar Planting
June 1999
June – July 2000
September 28, 2000 – 14 ft Tall
Large biomass
source for:
- Power
- Ethanol
- Pulp and Paper
- Engineered wood products
Carbon Sequestration Potential (simplified)
Value of Agroforestry to Canada (1)
Diversify products and farm income; Improve soil quality and reduce erosion;Improve water quality; Enhance wildlife habitat & improve biodiversity; Reduce pest management inputs;Increased aesthetics;Rural revitalization;
Value of Agroforestry to Canada (2)
Carbon sequestration;Tree farms (for engineered products, ethanol,
energy);Improved woodlot management; Forest products (mushroom, ginseng, berries,
hunting facilities etc.);Organic farming potential;Provide for future Canadian wood supply
Current Needs
Systems (species mix) that will work for Canada (biological, economics, etc);Demonstration sites;Extension and information;Education;Funding Partnerships and Networking;
NSERC Collaborative Research Network
Objectives: creation of knowledge and expertise that can most effectively be attained through large-scale multidisciplinary research projects; collaboration between university and college-based researchers and other sectors; transfer of knowledge and expertise to Canadian-based organizations; training of highly qualified personnel; and social and/or economic benefits to Canada.
Web Sites
PowerPoint Presentation:www.usask.ca/agriculture/caedac/pubs/NSERC.ppt
Draft letter to NSERC:www.usask.ca/agriculture/caedac/pubs/nserc1.pdf
Report to the Dean of Agriculture:http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/caedac/pubs/Dean.PDF
NSERC:www.nserc.ca/guide/b2_e.htm
Andre Hucq:[email protected]