www.dal.ca dal.ca

Organic Science Cluster Results Dr. Andrew Hammermeister

Margaret Savard and Joanna MacKenzie

Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada

Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University

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About the OACC • OACC’s Vision:

– Sustainable and science-based organic agricultural systems supporting healthy Canadian communities.

• OACC’s Mission:

– OACC facilitates research and education for organic producers and consumers to build sustainable communities.

• Linking Organic Knowledge

• www.oacc.info

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OACC

• Andy Hammermeister (Director)

• Margaret Savard (Program Officer)

• Joanna MacKenzie (Communications Officer)

• Karen Nelson & David Hobson (Technicians)

• National Advisory Board

• Affiliate: Derek Lynch

• Graduate and summer students, etc.

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Organic Science Cluster

• Led by the OACC & the Organic

Federation of Canada (OFC)

• 2009 to 2013

• $6.5 million AAFC,

matched by $2.2 million in

industry funding

• 27 research activities

• 84 scientists participating

• 35 research sites including

Government, University & Industry

(+ on-farm collaborators)

A Part of the AAFC Growing

Forward Science Cluster Intiative

• to facilitate a national strategic

approach to organic science in

• link scientists

• disseminate results to

stakeholders

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Organic Science Cluster (OSC) Supported by contributions from industry partners

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Organic Science Cluster Projects • A: Biologically-Based Fertility Management

• B: Integrated Grain-Based Cropping Systems

• C: Organic Greenhouse Production

• D: Integrated Management of Horticultural Field Crops

• E: Environmental Stewardship & Product Branding

• F: High Value Fruit Production

• G: Benchmarking the Organic Dairy Production System

• H: Organic Food Processing

• I: Sheep Parasite Control

• J: Communications

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A.1: Soil P dynamics and availability

under organic crop production • Goal: Characterize soil P dynamics and develop

practices to enhance P availability in organic systems.

• Organic yields often do not reflect P deficiencies. – Up to 80% of soil P may be in organic forms.

• Soils in organically managed plots in a long-term

rotation (Glenlea) retain more P

than conventional, but have less

labile (inorganic) P.

• Replacement of P in long-term

organic systems is essential.

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A.2: Predictive tools for characterizing

mycorrhizal contributions to P uptake

by organic crops • Goal: Quantify, identify and evaluate effectiveness of

arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities in

agricultural soils.

• A few dozen species of AMF dominate agricultural

soils across Canada.

– Independent of crop & management

system.

• A commercial diagnostic tool is

in development.

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B.1 Changing weed populations under

long-term organic crop production • Goal: Develop organic crop rotations that reduce yield

losses and weed populations.

• Determine how weed population dynamics differ

between organic & conventional systems.

• Effects of enhanced crop diversity (through crop

rotation) on weed pressure.

• Effects of management

practices on yield.

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B.2: Organic cereal crop breeding • Goal: Superior wheat & oat breeding lines that are

adapted for organic production.

– Nutrient availability, weed pressure, disease pressure &

soil biology.

• Long-term project.

• Performance of new lines at multiple

locations under organic management.

– Yield, protein, lodging, etc.

• Three organically bred wheat lines and

one oat line in registration testing.

• Participatory breeding.

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B.4: Low-tillage grain systems that

suppress weeds and minimize tillage • Goal: Recommendations for reduced till organic

systems in Canada.

– Tillage equipment and mulch species.

• Tillage: blade roller, flail mower, noble blade vs.

standard tillage.

– Effects on weed pressure, mulch residue.

• Green manures: barley, hairy vetch,

pea, oilseed radish, sunflower.

– Thick mulches (hairy vetch) suppresss

weeds.

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B.6: Integrated grain-based cropping

systems for sustainability • Goal: Assess biological, economic and ecological

sustainability, yield stability.

• Glenlea rotation – established in 1992.

• Perennial rotations provide better weed control.

• But, export of nutrients from forage crops in organic

plots, lowering yields.

– Offset by composted manure.

• More overall & active soil

microbes in organic.

– Prairie plots have highest SOM.

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C.1: Crop nutrition for vegetable plant

propagation • Goal: Optimize transplant growth, colour, vigour.

– Organic tomato, pepper, cucumber.

• Explore organic substrates for greenhouse use.

– Must be grown in a soil-based medium.

– Liquid organic fertilizers can be

problematic for fertigations systems.

– Compost – can supply needed

fertility and act as growth substrate.

• Healthy growth for 5 weeks

achieved with best treatments.

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C.5: Improve energy use efficiency and

reuse crop effluent for nutrients • Goal: Develop a more sustainable organic growing

system for vegetables.

– Nutrient & energy efficiency, yield, nutrient recycling.

• Artificial wetlands and passive bioreactors– effective

at removing pathogens in recirculated effluent.

– Also reduce N & P in wastewater.

– Biochar can reduce GHG.

• Wood biomass for heating can

reduce CO2 footprint.

• Biochar as amendment.

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C.6 Explore intercropped tomato & sweet

pepper under supplemental lighting

• Goal: Develop an organic greenhouse production

system for intercrop tomato and extended sweet

pepper crop under supplemental lighting.

• Supplemental lighting - growth throughout the winter.

• High pressure sodium lamps also provide heat.

• Lights within, as well as above, the canopy.

• Intercrop and adjust row

spacing to maximize

productivity.

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C.7: Geothermal energy & heat

exchangers for heat & humidity control • Goal: Evaluate economic feasibility of these systems

under northern climate.

• Traditional system – ventilating.

– Can lose CO2 that stimulates photosynthesis.

• Heat exchangers – Cool & dehumidify.

– Coil fan system.

– Cold water curtain.

– Both effective.

• Geothermal.

– Can both heat & cool.

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C.8: Optimizing fertilization & irrigation

for a closed organic tomato greenhouse • Goal: Develop management systems for organic soil-

based greenhouses.

• Soil based system for organic greenhouses.

– Cannot follow traditional irrigation/fertigation practices.

• Examine:

– Potential organic media.

– Potential fertility sources.

– Variable irrigation management.

• Maintained yields & quality.

• Increases sustainability.

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C.9: Production of organic cuttings &

potted plants

• Goal: Develop a sustainable, organic growing system

for greenhouse ornamental cuttings and potted plants.

• Still a small part of the sector, but potential for growth.

• Selection of growing media, container, fertilization

schedule, pest control, growth promoters.

• Survey consumer acceptance.

• Able to produce potted plants

organically with similar quality to

those produced conventionally.

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D.1: Agroecosystem management for

pest control in organic vegetables • Goal: Management for organic vegetable production

systems that increase biodiversity & minimize pests.

• Crimper rolled rye for vegetable transplants.

– Effect on weed & insect populations.

• Companion planting of carrot & leek.

– Effect on carrot rust fly, leek moth.

• Trap plants to attract insect pests.

– Yellow rocket in cabbage.

– Jimsonweed in potato.

• Flowering strips for biodiversity.

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D.2: System productivity and N flows in

organic vegetable long term rotations • Goal: Examine productivity and N flow in organic

vegetable rotations under varying management.

• High intensity versus low intensity rotation.

• Contribution of various legume varieties with differing

N release patterns to fertility of vegetables.

• Sweet corn:

– Looking at organic alternatives: intercropping red clover,

mulches, transplants.

– Compare quality, yield, risks, costs,

revenues.

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D.4: Organic production of vegetable

transplants for gardeners • Goal: Develop an organic greenhouse production

system for vegetable and herb transplants.

• Growing media.

• Fertilization management and effects.

– Growth, quality.

• Plant growth stimulators.

– Quality, disease tolerance.

• Biodegradable container.

• Consumer demand, profitability.

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D.5: Organic production of peat blocks

for vegetable seedlings and detection

of abiotic and biotic stresses • Goal: Develop methods to consistently deliver high

quality organic transplants.

• Growing media, wetting agent, fertilizers, plant growth

stimulators for peat blocks.

• Evaluate handling quality,

transplant success.

• Method to detect transplant

stress.

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D.7: Development of a weed

management system for pumpkins

grown for seed in Ontario • Goal: Develop sustainable production system for

organic seed pumpkins.

• Pumpkin seed - snack food or oil.

• Weed management.

– Reduced or no-till with cover crops

& rolling, straw.

• Seed yield & quality.

– Baby bear, Kakai, Snackface

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E.1: Modeling farm scale energy and

nutrient efficiency, and Global Warming

Potential, as affected by management • Goal: Evaluate effects of pasturing and organic

management practices on emissions and assess

whole-farm organic dairy GHG emissions.

• Holos model – estimates whole-farm, lifecycle GHG

emissions, Global Warming Potential.

– Exploring impacts of management decisions.

– On-farm user sessions and field studies.

• Estimate GHG emissions on organic

dairy farms - 15 farms & trials.

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E.2: Modeling Global Warming Potential

(GWP) reductions associated with

transition to organic farming • Goal: Model GWP reductions associated with

transition to organic agriculture.

• Development of a modeling system to track GHG

reductions during transition.

• Transitioning may reduce GHG

emissions.

– Cropping patterns.

– Animal density.

– Inputs.

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F.1: Organic Management of Black

Currant During Early Establishment • Goal: Develop a management system to optimize

yield and harvestability and quality of organic black

currants.

• Mechanical harvesting requires tall bushes.

• Fertility management.

• Rates, timing

• Weed management. - Critical for establishment.

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F.2: Weed management for organic

wild blueberry production • Goal: Develop viable weed management options for

organic lowbush blueberry fields.

• Perennial crop, natural stands.

– Difficult to use many organic weed management techniques.

• Burning to kill or suppress weeds,

impact weed seed bank.

• Sulfur to alter pH.

• Mowing or weed clipping.

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F.3: Ecologically sound soil

management in perennial fruit plantings • Goal: Identify best organic management practices to

overcome poor initial establishment of fruit plantings.

• Apple replant disease.

– Poor establishment, slow growth, economic impact.

• Improve health of root zone using biological

amendments.

– Rhizobacteria.

• Screening P solubilizing bacteria.

– 5 strains identified in lab now being

tested.

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F.4: Innovative herbicide and fungicide

replacement strategies for organic apple

production • Goal: Provide organic apple growers with effective

weed and scab management strategies.

• Orchard floor management practices for Honeycrisp.

– Reflective mulch with composted manure lowers weeds

while supporting tree growth & yield.

• Trunk injections of plant resistance

inducers.

– For disease control – apple scab.

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F.6: Organic production of strawberries

and raspberries under tunnels • Goal: Design and develop a system for producing

organic strawberries & raspberries in high tunnels.

• High tunnels: Season extension, limit pathogens,

improve yield & quality.

• Day-neutral strawberry. – Fertility, growing medium, cultivar.

– Extended season by 4 weeks.

• Raspberry. – Fertility, foliar spray.

– Extended season by 40 days.

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F.7: Control of Rosy Apple Aphid in

Organic Apple Orchards • Goal: Develop strategies to reduce the spring

populations of rosy apple aphids in organic orchards.

• Mechanical strategies:

– Removal of plantain (alternate host).

– Flail mowing, rotavating, reseeding.

• Chemical strategies:

– Spring and autumn oil applications.

– Degree-day modeling for timing.

– Well timed sprays reduce aphids

by up to 75%.

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G.1: Assessment of health, welfare & milk

composition on organic & conventional

dairy farms • Goal: To evaluate the health, welfare and milk quality

and fatty acid composition.

• Health & Welfare:

– Associations with housing & management.

• 59 farms: – 41 conventional (12 pastured), 18 organic.

– Tie stalls, free stalls & packed barns.

• Body condition score, hock lesions,

cleanliness, mastitis, milk & fatty acids.

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H: Organic Food Processing

• Processing limited by volume

and food safety concerns.

• Demand outweighs supply.

• Goal: Develop effective

alternatives to direct addition

of nitrite for organic cured

meats.

• Examining vegetable extracts

– Natural source of nitrates.

Replace or reduce nitrate

and nitrites in organic cured

meats while maintaining

quality and safety

Dr. J. Arul, Laval

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I.1: Over-Wintering of Gastrointestinal

Parasites in Organic Sheep Production • Goal: Improve understanding of factors that affect two

major sources of gastrointestinal nematodes

responsible for parasitic infections in sheep.

• Overwintering larvae (in ewes and on pasture)

contaminate early spring pasture.

– Can infect new lambs.

• Examine effect of climate on

overwintering.

• Examine impact of lambing

season on ewe infection.

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Canada’s Organic Science Cluster II Planning for the future Strong and direct impacts on the Organic Industry:

• Builds credibility for the organic sector

• Increases profitability

• Enhances competitiveness for Canadian producers and

processors

• Captures new opportunities

• Aims at reducing risks (environmental, social, economic)

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Cluster Administrative Structure

• Applicant: Organic Federation of Canada

• Managed by: Dalhousie University (OACC)

– Manager: Andy Hammermeister

– Program Officer: Margaret Savard

• Steering Committee: Research and

Innovation Working Group

• Science Advisory Body: Independent

(Industry, AAFC, University)

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Organic Science Cluster II • Open call for Letters of Intent circulated

– Excellent response – 100 LOIs received,

Listing 270 researchers from across Canada.

• LOIs evaluated for relevance, potential

impact and stakeholder inolvement

• Successful researchers invited to submit a

full proposal

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Organic Science Cluster II A. Field Crops: Optimizing productivity and competitiveness

through adaptable systems for field crops (12)

B. Horticultural crops: Advancing the science of vegetable

and fruit production (10)

C. Crop pests: Innovation in sustainable pest management

strategies (19)

D. Livestock: Optimizing animal health and welfare for

productivity and quality (7)

E. Markets: Adding value to capture markets, understanding

consumer demand and marketing structures (4)

F. Knowledge Transfer: Creating impact through knowledge

transfer to organic stakeholders (4)

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Samples of Activities Invited to Proposal Stage

• Development of an Alternative Fishmeal Based on Microalgae

for the Organic Aquaculture Industry.

• Optimization of a Land-Based Recirculating Aquaculture System

(RAS) for Production of Organic Fish.

• Effect of Exercise and Stall Modifications on Cow Comfort and

Performance in Tie-Stall Farms.

• Social Science: Local Organic Food Co-Operatives.

• Understanding Canadian Consumer Beliefs, Attitudes, Values,

and Purchasing Behaviour toward Organic Food.

• Development of Postharvest UV Light Therapy Technology for

Extended Preservation of Fresh Organic Fruits and Vegetables.

• Participatory Plant Breeding and Seed Production Approaches

for Canadian Organic Crop Production.

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Samples of Activities Invited to Proposal Stage

• Maximizing Organic Practices for Superfood Production: Quinoa

and Amaranth

• Giving Back to the Earth - From City to Farm: Enhancing the

Use of Municipal Composts in Organic Agriculture

• Impact of Organic Fertilization on Growth and Yield of

Secondary Hop Compounds Intended for Food and

Nutraceutical Processing

• Impacts of Reduced Tillage and Diversified Cropping Sequences

Under Organic Management in the Semi-Arid Brown Soil Zone

• Production of Organic Mother Plants under LED Artificial Light

for the Production of Potted Flowers

• Microbial Management in Organic Viticulture: Using Arbuscular

Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculants

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Samples of Activities Invited to Proposal Stage • Development of Validated Seed Disinfection Strategies for the

Organic Production of Sprouted Vegetables

• Development of Pheromones for Organic Pest Management in

Christmas Trees

• Using Floral Beds to Optimize Conservative Biological Control of

Caterpillar Pests of Cruciferous Crops

• Identifying and Overcoming Limiting Factors to Organic Food

Processing in Canada

• The Health Benefits of Soil Management Techniques to Improve

Flavor and Phytochemical Content of Carrot: Linking Healthy

Soil, Healthy Plants & Healthy People

• Organic Insecticide for Stored Grain and Warehouses

• Organic Production of Vegetable Extracts for Food Markets and

Neutraceuticals

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Knowledge Transfer • Within research Activities:

– Integrating stakeholder participation in

research

– Disseminating research results

• Overall Plan (OACC led)

– Targeted literature reviews

– Website/e-news and popular press

– Conferences (2)

– Translation

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For more information on OSCII:

www.oacc.info/osc2/

Andrew Hammermeister

andrew.hammermeister@dal.ca Phone: (902) 893-8037

Questions?