Ferland Guest Lecture

Introduction to Global Food Security Challenges

  • Question: How are we going to feed a growing population?

    • Current global population: 8 billion.

    • Projected population in 75 years: over 10 billion.

  • Essential requirement: Clean, healthy, and productive food systems.

  • Role of crop lands:

    • Essential for food security.

    • Most crops need soil to grow.

Environmental Impact of Cropping Systems

  • Crop plants can:

    • Release greenhouse gases (CO2 and N2O).

    • Act as carbon sinks when productive:

    • Store carbon in soil.

  • Nitrogen Fertilizer:

    • Essential for yield improvement.

    • Double-edged sword:

    • Need for high yields vs. environmental threats from its use.

    • Potential environmental impacts:

      • Emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas.

      • N2O is 273 times more potent than CO2.

      • Contributes significantly to nitrogen fertilizer emissions.

Sustainable Use of Nitrogen Fertilizer

  • Need to understand nitrogen loss and develop practices to minimize emissions.

  • Focus on efficient nitrogen use and reducing N2O emissions.

Global Solutions for Nitrogen Fertilizer Use

  • Reduce global nitrogen surplus and shortages:

    • Some regions have excess nitrogen, others lack it.

    • Aim to equalize nitrogen availability globally.

    • Importance of efficient use of nitrogen in needed regions.

  • Remove nitrogen pollution:

    • Expensive technologies required.

    • Examples:

    • Wetlands and riparian management:

      • Filter nitrogen from runoff.

      • Utilize nitrogen in biomass production and conversion back to inert N2.

    • Floodplain management:

      • Slowing drainage can accelerate denitrification, returning N2 to the atmosphere.

    • Bioreactors:

      • Treat nitrogen in wastewater.

      • Require efficiency improvements in crop systems for practicality.

  • Reduce food waste:

    • Global cost of food waste: $1 trillion.

    • 25% of food produced is wasted.

    • Wasted food results in wasted nitrogen fertilizer as well.

  • Change dietary habits to reduce nitrogen footprint:

    • Different foods have varying nitrogen footprints.

    • Encouragement towards reducing unnecessary nitrogen use and waste.

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Agriculture

  • Need for agricultural practices and technologies:

    • Improving crop varieties:

    • Example: Potatoes have a nitrogen use efficiency of 50%.

    • Support soil health:

    • Healthy soil improves nutrient cycling and minimizes nitrogen loss.

    • Shift to improved nitrogen management practices (4R):

    • Right source, right rate, right time, right place.

    • Aim to reduce nitrogen losses from cropping systems, specifically N2O emissions and other forms of nitrogen loss.

Tailored Solutions for Regional Agriculture

  • Importance of developing localized practices:

    • Practices in Saskatchewan may differ from those in Ontario due to climate and cropping conditions.

  • Practices should be easily adoptable for farmers.

    • Technical support required for implementation.

Research and Implementation in Saskatchewan

  • Ongoing research:

    • Canadian Edgewell Network:

    • Led by Dr. Claudia Rangouretal, a world-renowned meteorologist.

    • Focuses on benchmarking practices and minimizing nitrous oxide emissions.

  • Air sampling in Saskatchewan:

    • Measuring N2O and CO2 concentrations continuously at a high frequency (10 times per second), year-round.

  • Study design:

    • Examining typical canola-wheat rotation over four years.

    • Two nitrogen treatments compared: Standard Practice (20 kg N/ha urea) vs. 4R Management (50 kg N/ha SuperU or Ambal).

Carbon Dynamics in Cropping Systems

  • Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE):

    • Represents the balance between carbon in (photosynthesis) and carbon out (respiration).

    • High photosynthesis and low respiration indicate a carbon sink; the opposite indicates a carbon source.

  • Cumulative NEE:

    • Sum of daily NEE values over a year.

    • Positive NEE indicates a carbon source; negative indicates a carbon sink.

  • Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance (NECB):

    • Accounts for carbon removed with grain harvest vs. cumulative NEE.

    • Indicates potential for soil carbon sequestration in cropping systems.

Greenhouse Gas Budget Evaluation

  • Evaluation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions:

    • Focus on CO2 and N2O.

    • Application of 4R management reduces N2O emissions by 57% without impacting crop yields.

  • Combined greenhouse gas emissions from N2O and CO2 yield budget metrics.

    • Source vs. sink determination based on combined emissions.

  • Positive outcomes in 2024 with higher precipitation.

    • Enhanced carbon uptake from crops resulted in lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclusion and Future Research Directions

  • Importance of ongoing research and collaboration:

    • Addressing the food insecurity challenge requires an integrative approach across research, agriculture, and policy development.

    • Studies continue in Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, analyzing crop rotations including pulses and assessing additional nitrogen management practices.

    • Global efforts are also crucial in implementing successful nitrogen use strategies.

  • Engagement of farmers and agronomists essential for applying new practices effectively.

  • Future considerations:

    • Explore cropping systems for enhanced growth, diversified rotations, and drought-resistant varieties.

  • Call for contributions:

    • Engage future agronomists and stakeholders in improving nitrogen fertilizer use and reducing food waste.