Grant: Alliance Grants
Université Laval
$275,763.00
Mitigation of peat extraction impacts by a new peat harvesting method protecting the peatland stored solid carbon_x000d_ _x000d_
FY 2020-21
Summary
Peat extraction for the production of horticultural substrates is a well-established industry in Canada. However,
the current method used for peat extraction depletes the long-term stored carbon (C) contributing to climate
change, having a negative impact on the social acceptability of using peat in gardening and horticulture.
Premier Tech Horticulture, a world leader in peat production and distribution, understands that C emissions
must be significantly reduced or halted. With that aim, Premier Tech Horticulture has pioneered a novel
harvesting method, named the "acrotelm-harvesting method". Because the new peat cutting method does not
require any draining of the peatlands and only harvests the top subsurface of the peat (~ 10 cm) leaving the
surface vegetation intact; we suppose that the long-term stored peat will remain intact (objective 1). Moreover,
recent research suggests that this harvesting method could be optimized by reducing peat decomposition by
strengthening the mechanism of 'enzymic latch'. Objective 2 will test the effect of phenolic compound
additions to slow down decomposition within a large-scale field experiment. Additionally, the potential of this
new harvesting method to maintain flora and fauna habitats will be assessed (objective 3), as it aims to harvest
peat biomass on a cyclical, sustainable, and optimized manner. If the new peat harvesting method proves to be
successful in protecting the long-term storage of C from peatland, at least three very positive outcomes will
emerge for the whole peat industry: 1) a significant reduction in C emissions mitigating climate change, 2) the
achievement of social acceptability for peat use (consumers), and 3) the creation of new jobs and opportunities
to sell specialized harvesting equipment in Canada and globally.
_x000d_L'extraction de tourbe pour la production de substrats horticoles est une industrie bien établie au Canada. Cependant, la méthode actuelle utilisée pour l'extraction de la tourbe épuise le carbone (C) stocké à long terme, contribuant ainsi au changement c
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
555923-2020
Name nom
Rochefort, Line
Department département
Phytologie
Organization id
51
Institution établissement
Université Laval
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2020
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
275763
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
400
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1500
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Environmental engineering
Research subject fr
Génie de l'environnement
Installment
inst:1 - 2
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Mitigation of peat extraction impacts by a new peat harvesting method protecting the peatland stored solid carbon_x000d_
_x000d_
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Peat extraction for the production of horticultural substrates is a well-established industry in Canada. However,
the current method used for peat extraction depletes the long-term stored carbon (C) contributing to climate
change, having a negative impact on the social acceptability of using peat in gardening and horticulture.
Premier Tech Horticulture, a world leader in peat production and distribution, understands that C emissions
must be significantly reduced or halted. With that aim, Premier Tech Horticulture has pioneered a novel
harvesting method, named the "acrotelm-harvesting method". Because the new peat cutting method does not
require any draining of the peatlands and only harvests the top subsurface of the peat (~ 10 cm) leaving the
surface vegetation intact; we suppose that the long-term stored peat will remain intact (objective 1). Moreover,
recent research suggests that this harvesting method could be optimized by reducing peat decomposition by
strengthening the mechanism of 'enzymic latch'. Objective 2 will test the effect of phenolic compound
additions to slow down decomposition within a large-scale field experiment. Additionally, the potential of this
new harvesting method to maintain flora and fauna habitats will be assessed (objective 3), as it aims to harvest
peat biomass on a cyclical, sustainable, and optimized manner. If the new peat harvesting method proves to be
successful in protecting the long-term storage of C from peatland, at least three very positive outcomes will
emerge for the whole peat industry: 1) a significant reduction in C emissions mitigating climate change, 2) the
achievement of social acceptability for peat use (consumers), and 3) the creation of new jobs and opportunities
to sell specialized harvesting equipment in Canada and globally.
_x000d_L'extraction de tourbe pour la production de substrats horticoles est une industrie bien établie au Canada. Cependant, la méthode actuelle utilisée pour l'extraction de la tourbe épuise le carbone (C) stocké à long terme, contribuant ainsi au changement c
