Sustainable Management of Water in the Agricultural Landscapes of Canada
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has asked the Council of Canadian Academies to provide a comprehensive evaluation of what additional science is needed to better guide the sustainable management of water to address the needs of agriculture.
Progress Report
The Expert Panel on Water and Agriculture held its third meeting from November 28-29 in Ottawa. This assessment is now in the content development phase. The fourth panel meeting is planned for February 2012.
Background
The belief that Canada possesses an endless supply of freshwater is quickly being replaced by the reality that limits exist, and in some regions those limits are already being reached. The agriculture sector in many regions of the country finds itself under pressure, either in terms of the availability of water or in the impact that agriculture is having on hydrological systems. Knowledge of the underlying hydrological cycles, the potential impacts of climate change, and the effects of human activities are all fundamental to the development of a policy framework for sustainable water management. Additionally, knowledge of how to best foster adaptation, resiliency, and uptake of sustainable practices in the agricultural sector is needed as Canada considers future public policies. Therefore, in October 2010, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food asked the Council to provide a comprehensive evaluation of what additional science is needed to better guide the sustainable management of water to address the needs of Canadian agriculture.
Question
What additional science is needed to better guide sustainable management of water to meet the needs of agriculture?
Expert Panel
The Expert Panel on Water and Agriculture is chaired by Dr. Howard Wheater, an international expert in hydrological science and sustainable water resource management. For a complete list of panel members visit the Expert Panel on Water and Agriculture page.
For further information, please contact:
Tim Krywulak, Program Director, at 613-567-5000 ext. 232 or tim.krywulak@scienceadvice.ca.