$2.5 million for the creation of the Réseau québécois de recherche en agriculture durable

Right now, the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et utilized sciences (FRQNT), Collectively with its companion the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ) introduced the creation of the Réseau québécois de recherche en agriculture sturdy (RQRAD), a flagship meaconstructive of the Plan d’agriculture sturdy 2020-2030 (PAD).

Coordinated by 4 co-holders with Extensively acknowledged expertise in sustainable agriculture—McGill Professor of Agricultural Economics Paul Thomassin, Jacques Brodeur of the Université de Montréal, Jean Caron of Université Laval, and Alain N Rousseau of the Institut nationwide de la recherche scientifique—the creation of RQRAD is rooted Inside The federal authorities’s dedication To Think about agriculture To current Prime extreme quality meals in an environmentally accountable method. The RQRAD will make a key contribution to the work and efforts On this space. This grant of $2.5 million over 5 years follows a name for proposals issued final April.

“Definitely one of many important elements of sustainable enhancement is the monetary sustainability of the sector and incorporating the environment into choice-making,” said Thomassin. “As a collaborative community of evaluationers, Which incorporates economists, social scientists, and biophysical scientists, RQRAD will encourage inter-disciplinary considering. The community hopes to advocate various practices Which will Make constructive the sustainability of the agricultural sector. The event Of these new practices and institutions Is important To deal with primary worldwide factors Similar to local climate change.”

The RQRAD’s programming Is predicated on 4 evaluation axes that permit the pooling of forces dedicated to accelerating the enhancement Of information associated to soil well being and conservation and the discount of pesticide use in a context of local climate change. Digital devices, precision agriculture And huge knowledge As properly as to socio-financial elements are additionally integral parts of the community’s programming.

“Agriculture is A critical contributor to the financial engine of Quebec and to the vitality of its rural areas,” said Martha Crago, Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation. “McGill’s evaluationers are dedicated to the sustainable enhancement of thIs important sector For every the people of Québec and worldwidely. As a Outcome of of this vital funding from the FRQNT, Definitely one of the biggest evaluationers Inside the province will work together to decide options to the challenges of environmental degradation and meals safety. McGill is Joyful with Professor Paul Thomassin, Professor Joann Whalen, and the over 20 McGill evaluationers who will contribute their power and expertise to this collaborative community.”

Bringing together over 200 evaluationers from 15 universities, 5 school know-how change facilities And a quantity of completely different provincial and federal evaluation facilities, the RQRAD will enconstructive concerted and coordinated efforts Inside The world of sustainable agriculture So as To enconstructive that the evaluation produced is properly aligned with the information wants of the consumer communities involved.

“The creation of this community, which stems from a flagship meaconstructive of the Sustainable Agriculture Plan, is to be recommended, As a Outcome of It is designed To fulfill the wants of the agricultural sector and residents,” said André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister Responsible for the Centre-du-Québec Area and the Chaudière-Appalaches Area. “By bringing together All of the gamers working to develop a viable and sustainable agricultural sector, the RQRAD will permit to deploy structured and unbiased evaluation, to velocity up the adoption of agri-environmental practices and To understand concrete and measurable end outcomes. The properly-focused strains of evaluation will enconstructive positive elements in soil well being and lowered pesticide use.”

Alongside with contributing to the achievement of the PDA’s goals, this unprecedented mobilization will undeniably enconstructive Québec’s strong management on the native, nationwide and worldwide scene When it Includes sustainable agriculture, When it Includes its financial, environmental and societal elements.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to the co-holders And completely different people involved On this new community,” said Janice Bailey, Scientific Director of FRQNT. “As a Outcome of the UN Decade of Movement strikes forward, It’s crucial that we develop and implement sustainable strategies of agricultural manufacturing. I am assured that The mannequin new management in evaluation and innovation proposed by RQRAD will assist shield the environment from local climate change and enhance Québec’s meals self-sufficiency.”