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This Summary Report of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) Dialogue on “Optimizing Land Use for Sustainable Growth” held on February 21-22, 2019 in Calgary AB, synthesizes much food for thought that was generated at this CAPI Dialogue. It is clear the sector is doing its part to improve its environmental impacts for future sustainability. But there are still many challenges ahead to be addressed. Knowledge, better practices, data and metrics and innovation and new technologies will help address these challenges. The government can have a role by providing incentives to adopt sustainable production practices. Industry has a role as well, by innovating and developing transparent systems for verifying sustainable production practices. Another CAPI Dialogue in Guelph in late April 2019 may generate further insight into the way forward for the sector in ensuring future quality growth. 

In this paper, prepared for the Clean Economy Fund, the authors discuss two major challenges facing the world in the 21st century: climate change and food security. Agriculture sits at the centre of the proverbial “eye of the storm” due to its contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change, and the impact climate change will have on agriculture and future food production. The challenge remains whether agricultural production can grow enough to produce nutritious, affordable, and accessible food to meet the demands of an increasing global population, without degrading the environment or depleting the natural resource base or “natural capital”.

This paper, commissioned by CAPI, critically examines the issue of externality in agriculture and what can be done about it. In this regard, it is important to remember that something might be identified as a problem but may, in fact, not be a problem – we should not simply assume a problem exists and then try to solve it without knowing whether the problem even exists or not.

In this paper, the authors explain the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and its benefits to Canadian agriculture.  

This presentation, by G. Cornelis van Kooten, University of Victoria, was presented at CAPI’s Dialogue on “Optimizing Land Use for Sustainable Growth” on February 21-22, 2019 in Calgary AB. This event was the success it was because of the great speakers, discussants and actively engaged participants, including next gen’s, who contributed to this important CAPI conversation.

This presentation, by Cameron N. Carlyle from the University of Alberta, was presented at CAPI’s Dialogue on “Optimizing Land Use for Sustainable Growth” on February 21-22, 2019 in Calgary AB. This event was the success it was because of the great speakers, discussants and actively engaged participants, including next gen’s, who contributed to this important CAPI […]

This presentation, by Sean Smukler from the University of British Columbia, was presented at CAPI’s Dialogue on “Optimizing Land Use for Sustainable Growth” on February 21-22, 2019 in Calgary AB. This event was the success it was because of the great speakers, discussants and actively engaged participants, including next gen’s, who contributed to this important […]

This presentation, by Graeme Finn from Southern Cross Livestock, was presented at CAPI’s Dialogue on “Optimizing Land Use for Sustainable Growth” on February 21-22, 2019 in Calgary AB. This event was the success it was because of the great speakers, discussants and actively engaged participants, including next gen’s, who contributed to this important CAPI conversation.

This presentation, by Richard Gray from the University of Saskatchewan, was presented at CAPI’s Dialogue on “Optimizing Land Use for Sustainable Growth” on February 21-22, 2019 in Calgary AB. This event was the success it was because of the great speakers, discussants and actively engaged participants, including next gen’s, who contributed to this important CAPI conversation.

This paper, commissioned by CAPI, examines how cattle and beef production have gained a negative opinion by some segments of the general public. However, past research done within the Canadian Prairie and in other regions have demonstrated that with appropriate management, cattle on native grasslands can increase some of the ecosystem goods and services (EG&S) that we value. Many studies highlight that moderate levels of grazing maintain biodiversity and soil carbon at levels above what these systems provide when grazing is removed, and especially above the level provided by other land uses, such as cultivation.