You don’t need a doctorate in agronomics to know that farming has changed dramatically during the past two decades.
Thanks to research and innovation, it now takes 50,000 fewer gallons of water to grow an acre of corn than it did in 1990. This same science has allowed Canada to become the world’s leading producer of canola, revolutionized farming practices, and made it possible for a generation of farm kids to return to the land.
After years of low prices, drought, and the impact of BSE on our ranchers, many of our farmers wondered about the future of agriculture. But thanks in part to innovation and cutting edge research, today 98 per cent of farms remain family-owned or controlled, land prices have risen, and we now have 25,000 farm operators under the age of 35.
The fact is agriculture is one of Canada’s leading industries. One in eight Canadian jobs two million are in the Ag and Agri-Food sector. This growth would not have been possible without research and innovation. Almost every day, Canadian scientists give farmers new tools to optimize production, and our farmers are embracing change. In some cases, new technology allows farmers to literally reach for the stars.
For instance, under the Soil Moisture Toolkit program, high-resolution soil moisture maps are created using data collected by Canada’s RADARSAT-2 satellite. This information is available for researchers, policymakers, and farmers, to monitor and manage flood or drought situations on agricultural lands.
Funding for this project is being provided through Growing Forward 2, Canada’s new agriculture framework which focuses on long-term agricultural growth by increasing funding for innovation by 50 per cent.
If the past 20 years have taught us anything, it’s that the future of agriculture lies in research and innovation.
