Solutions for adapting agriculture

Solutions exist to make farming easier in the context of climate change, depending on the type and location of production. To help agricultural producers adapt, several tools have been developed to modify their practices in the field. For example:

• training on sustainable agricultural practices that promote greater crop and soil resilience to the impacts of climate change;
• the implementation of various sustainable irrigation practices; the installation of windbreaks to protect crops from strong winds;
• the development of new plant varieties that are more resistant to climate variability;
• the development of cover crops and winter wheat to make fields more resilient;
• the conservation of biodiversity (diversity of plants, insects and animals) in the fields, which is an essential component in the function of agricultural systems;
• the installation of equipment to ensure the comfort of animals in warmer conditions.

Several projects are helping to make Québec agriculture more resilient to climate change. Here are just a few examples.

Over the past few years, the Agriclimate project has been helping to develop tools for integrating adaptation practices, both in agricultural business decisions and in the field. Agriclimate tools are developed by agricultural producers in collaboration with several partners, including a vast network of advisors, specialists and researchers. In particular, the project supports actions to improve soil health and water management, combat insect pests and diseases, and develop techniques for irrigating crops.

In Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, after carrying out a diagnosis and creating an adaptation plan for the region’s agriculture, several agricultural producers contributed to studies on the viability of forage crops that would be more resistant to drought. Many others have decided to plant cover crops, which protect the soil over winter and act as natural fertilizers.