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Effects of Climate Change on Canadian Agriculture and Adaptation Opportunities

Effects of Climate Change on Canadian Agriculture and Adaptation Opportunities. Presentation to Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry Ed Tyrchniewicz P.Ag President, Agricultural Institute of Canada February 20 2003. Outline. But agriculture is different –

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Effects of Climate Change on Canadian Agriculture and Adaptation Opportunities

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  1. Effects of Climate Change on Canadian Agriculture and Adaptation Opportunities Presentation to Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry Ed Tyrchniewicz P.Ag President, Agricultural Institute of Canada February 20 2003

  2. Outline • But agriculture is different – • Elements of climate change and agriculture • Benefits and concerns for agriculture • Adaptation opportunities

  3. But Agriculture is Different: Some Realities ... • Biological process of production is very dependent on climate and weather • Climate variability is a fact of life – risk management • Ag sector generally operates in global markets with narrow margins and limited opportunities to pass costs on to customers

  4. But Agriculture is Different: Some More Realities ... • Process of policy making in agriculture is a shared federal-provincial responsibility • Focus on short term income problems • Expanding exports is seen as a solution; dealing with climate change is not • Perception of agriculture as a polluter and destroyer of the environment

  5. Elements of Climate Change • Temperature • Precipitation • Variability more extreme weather events risk management

  6. Sources of Greenhouse Gases CO2 Fossil fuels, soil destruction, deforestation Methane Agriculture, landfills, coal mines, gas production losses N2O Soil, Fossil fuels, Fertilizer

  7. Global Warming Potentials (GWP) and Agriculture’s Emissions

  8. Benefits to Agriculture • potentially more heat units • longer frost free season • increase moisture in some drought prone areas of Eastern Canada • CO2 growth enhancement

  9. Concerns for Agriculture • increased variability in climate • raised sea level on the East and West Coasts • increased and decreased soil moisture in different parts of Canada • more/different weeds and bugs • more erosion

  10. Changes in Ecozone Boundaries Present Day Doubled-CO2

  11. Agriculture has a history of adapting to change technology markets policies climate

  12. Adaptation Opportunities • Conservation tillage • Manure management • Shelterbelts and permanent cover • Carbon storage • Carbon emissions trading

  13. Adaptation Opportunities • Conservation tillage • Manure management • Shelterbelts and permanent cover • Carbon storage • Carbon emissions trading

  14. Adaptation Opportunities • Conservation tillage • Manure management • Shelterbelts and permanent cover • Carbon storage • Carbon emissions trading

  15. Adaptation Opportunities • Conservation tillage • Manure management • Shelterbelts and permanent cover • Carbon storage • Carbon emissions trading

  16. Adaptation Opportunities • Conservation tillage • Manure management • Shelterbelts and permanent cover • Carbon storage • Carbon emissions trading

  17. Blessed are the Flexible For They Shall Not Get Bent Out Of Shape

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