Grant: Alliance Grants

Marginal areas in cropland are often subject to heavy soil erosion, salinity, moisture issues, and low soil fertility. They also occur in ecologically sensitive areas such as near wetlands or after conversion of grasslands. The Prairie region contains 82% of the Canada's agricultural land, and has significant acreage of cropland in annual production that is considered to be marginal or low-yielding. Restoring these marginal areas to perennials is a low cost, high return, Nature-based solution that can sequester more carbon, reduce damaging agrochemical inputs, enhance biodiversity, and increase producer profitability. We are planning a transdisciplinary research program to identify, characterize (economically and biophysically) and spatially model where these marginal areas exist across the region combining precision agriculture, remote sensing and economic data. Once defined, we will collaborate and test a range of producer informed solutions for conversion and utilization of these areas as perennial grass and forb mixes of native and tame species. Together with our partners, the team will measure a wide range of economic, agronomic and environmental costs and benefits before and after conversion on approximately 500-1000 acres of marginal land on 50 farms and 3 prairie provinces. This work has significant potential for widespread adoption in the most agro-intensive region of Canada with rapid tangible gains for meeting Canada's net zero goals.