U of M ag researcher asks, ‘What’s the big idea?’

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This article was published 21/10/2023 (747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba leads the way in many agricultural practices that are better than any other jurisdiction in Canada, but there is room to grow, says a renowned agricultural researcher from the University of Manitoba.

Nazim Cicek, the University of Manitoba’s associate dean (research) in the faculty of agricultural and food sciences, will be in Brandon on Monday night. He will be joined by U of M president Michael Benarroch as co-host of an episode in a continuing podcast series called, “What’s the big idea?”

In an interview, Cicek said the Keystone Province does well when it comes to no tillage or limited tillage, which is a way to grow crops or pasture without disturbing the soil, something that has helped to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Producers also get high marks for how they manage rotations and integrate between livestock and crop production.

“When you look internationally, those sectors have a much lower footprint than some of our competitors,” Cicek said. “So, Manitoba does implement new ideas and is very progressive in many ways, but I wouldn’t want to say we are there yet. There’s lots of room for improvement.”

That’s why, Cicek added, he wants to know what Western Manitobans think about sustainable agriculture, and he wants to hear their ideas.

The “What’s the big idea?” session is free and open to farmers, producers, policymakers, and those who work for the government as well as the agriculture sector. The target audience is anyone who wants to be part of the conversation about sustainability.

As a researcher, Cicek said his role, along with dozens of other professors at the U of M, is to provide scientifically sound data to producers, processors, and marketers to help them make better decisions.

“How do we, for example, reduce impact of fertilizer production and application on crop lands with respect to greenhouse gases? How can we better manage water and manure in a more environmentally sustainable manner? And how do we produce plant and animal protein in a more sustainable way?” said Cicek.

There will be a time when research will need to be turned into action, he added, and that poses a challenge because of messaging.

“It’s not really the researchers or the university’s job to ask farmers to do something. At the end of the day, we send the data, but the information has to be sent in the right language to producer meetings and get producers to talk to each other,” Cicek said.

Duncan Morrison with Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association agreed. The non-profit is run by a farmer-led board of directors, with the goaling of ensuring healthy and sustainable grasslands and forage crops.

“The best way for a farmer to hear about something is from another farmer,” Morrison said. “They’re very big on peer-to-peer with interactions and networking. And there are a number of producer groups that are making sure the word gets out there around the importance of soil health.”

Just north of Brandon is a research and demonstration farm operated by Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives, a non-profit which, as a hub, brings beef producers together with input and consultation from government and conservation organizations.

There is no one way to get the message to producers, said Mary-Jane Orr, MBFI’s general manager. The organization hosts academics who conduct research at MBFI’s farms, as well as giving on-farm demonstrations, which generate data that they can share with producers.

“From my experience and travels, I continue to be very impressed with the innovation that Manitoba producers are bringing forward, and their willingness to make decisions based on science-based data. There are a lot of producers really interested in and willing to move the needle forward when it comes to sustainability in a province,” Orr said.

U of M’s Cicek is also interested in hearing ideas about how to get more young people interested and trained in new technologies that can help agriculture become ever more prosperous, more sustainable, and resilient.

The industry needs more diverse students, Cicek said.

“The urban-rural and northern-southern mix can be improved, and we can have more Indigenous folks and more new Canadians involved in our food production system. We can do better, there’s room to grow.”

The session, “What’s the big idea?”, will be held Monday in the Imperial Ballroom at Brandon’s Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave., from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

The formal presentation begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer period, with light refreshments served.

It’s free to attend, but registration is requested at https://bitly.ws/XXjK

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