Tiffany Traverse on seeds and their endless power to give, heal and grow
On her farm in B.C.'s Peace Region, Tiffany Traverse is embracing the practice of seed saving and reclaiming her mixed Secwépemc and Swiss-Italian heritage.
Agriculture
B.C. invests $3M in Agritech Grant Program to improve sustainable food productionB.C. invests $3M in agritech grant program to improve sustainable food production
The B.C. government is investing up to $3 million in a grant program to help increase sustainable and regenerative food production in the province.
Our future investigations
At Canada's National Observer, we have a deep commitment to human rights, to democracy, to social justice, and to leaving behind a better planet for future generations.
National Farmers Union appeals to agriculture minister to stop Site C dam
More than 3,500 hectares of agricultural land in B.C. would be flooded if the hydroelectric project goes through, the group warns.
B.C. land-matching program hits 100 farmers milestone
This year, Kanver Brares will be tending his own fruit trees in the Similkameen Valley — a dream he has had since childhood — thanks to a budding provincial program matching new farmers with land.
Anita Georgy talks food security during COVID-19, connecting through agriculture
The executive director of FarmFolk CityFolk, B.C.’s largest food and agriculture non-profit organization, takes some time to answer growing questions.
Should the price of meat reflect its impact on the environment?
Yes, say German researchers who examined the environmental cost of producing meat, dairy and vegetables in both organic and industrial agricultural systems.
Will superweeds become stronger with rising temperatures?
Widely used herbicides are struggling to kill some weeds. Some experts think heat could be part of the problem.
Farmers call on Ottawa to boost funding for green agriculture
On the heels of a $98-million funding commitment, Farmers for Climate Solutions has sent a recommendation to the federal government: set aside $300 million in the 2021 budget for agri-environmental spending.
How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria's war — and are now helping to feed the world
Conflict forced scientists to abandon a gene bank, but not before duplicating their last remnants of essential crops in the Svalbard vault on a remote Arctic island.
Corporations are devouring farmland
More than two-thirds of the world’s fields, ranches and orchards are owned by one per cent of its farmers, according to a report released Tuesday.
How a new organic farming app is trying to weed out paperwork
LiteFarm, a farm management software developed by the University of British Columbia, aims to help organic farmers keep track of data and renew their organic certifications.
Warmer winters mean more freeze-thaw cycles — and more emissions — for Canada's fields
Each September, Ashala Daniel sows her fields with winter rye, hoping the seed takes root before the first snows fall. It’s a ritual that could help save the planet.
Soils are thinning in B.C.’s breadbasket — and it could hurt farmers' crops
The Fraser Valley’s fertility is literally vanishing beneath farmers’ feet.
Gene editing debate takes root with organic broccoli, new UBC research shows
Broccoli sex is controversial. Especially organic broccoli sex. That’s because new gene editing technologies developed in the last 10 years have forced organic plant breeders, certification bodies, and farmers to re-examine techniques commonly used to breed the Lorax-like plants.