Dr. Kubota Hiroshi, Research Scientist in sustainable crop production at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe.
Dr. Kubota Hiroshi, Research Scientist in sustainable crop production at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe.
Since started working at Lacombe Research and Development Centre, he has focused on developing agronomy practices that improve economic and environmental sustainability in both conventional and organic cropping systems. he currently has three focal research areas: 1) cropping system diversity - to improve resilience to biotic and abiotic stress in fields; 2) cropping practice diversity - to provide tools for producers whose goals are improving/maintaining yield while reducing negative impacts on the environment; 3) integrated crop management - to optimize usage of natural resources for crop production in an environmentally and economically sound manner.
Him, Dr. Guillermo Hernandez Ramirez and his MSc. graduate student, Ms. Alessia Marchesan at the University of Alberta, are tackled to understanding the complexities of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from organically managed fields. This important work is driven by a shared commitment to not only uncover the challenges posed by GHG emissions but also to explore viable ways to reduce the emissions from soil and improve soil carbon sequestration in organically managed lands. We recognize that these efforts are vital in building a more sustainable future for organic cropping systems.
Our project seeks to address key questions that resonate with many stakeholders in the agricultural community. First, we are carefully examining how much GHG is emitted from organically managed crop fields in western Canada. Second, we are investigating the potential of organic cropping systems for carbon sequestration, both in the short-term and in the long run. Lastly, we aim to provide economic analyses that will help identify the beneficial and profitable practices for farmers.
In our study, we are comparing three cropping systems: 1) the standard tillage system, 2) the reduced tillage system, and 3) the integrated crop-livestock system. Our goal is to understand how these systems differ in their GHG emissions, carbon sequestration, and economic outcomes between now and 2028.
The collaboration among Dr. Kubota, Dr. Ramirez, and Ms. Marchesan is a wonderful example of how teamwork can drive meaningful change. Dr. Kubota focuses on crop production and the intricate management of weeds and nutrients, while Dr. Ramirez and Ms. Marchesan concentrate on GHG emissions and carbon sequestration potential. Together, they are working to deepen our understanding of how organic cropping systems impact the environment and the economy, offering insights that can support farmers in making informed, sustainable choices.
Soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are crucial elements of sustainable agriculture, even if their impacts are not immediately visible on the farm. The findings from the integrated crop-livestock system will be significant for the members of Farming Forward. We successfully completed our first year of grazing activities last summer, and we are actively analyzing the data collected during that period.
Sincerely thank Farming Forward for their generous support in helping share this important project with others. It is believed the information regarding GHG emissions and carbon sequestration from the integrated crop-livestock system in this project will serve as a valuable resource for Farming Forward members to promote sustainable agriculture.
Having started in 2023, this study has now entered its second year, and they are excited to share their preliminary results in spring 2025. We appreciate your interest and support in these crucial efforts.
Acknowledgement
This research is part of Organic Science Cluster 4, co-managed by the Organic Federation of Canada and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at Dalhousie University, and supported by the AgriScience Program under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership and Results Driven Agriculture Research.
