BC Food Web

Recent research on Vancouver Island has found that seawater buffering with soda ash can lead to weakened defense in adult oysters to marine heatwaves and disease 🦪🌊 Read the research summary at the BC Food Web: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/seawate…

Sink or source? A new Lower Fraser Valley study shows how blueberry management (fertilizer, pruning, mowing, sawdust mulch) changes GHG emissions across the year. 🫐🌎 Read the BC Food Web plain-language summary: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/effects…

🪲🌾 A new study in Delta, BC shows that grassland set-asides - especially those with flowers, support higher numbers and greater diversity of beneficial insects than cropped fields. Read the summary of the research: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/buzzing…

A recent study in the Okanagan highlights the best cover crops for different vineyard goals, taking into consideration factors like water availability and competition with grapevines. 🍇 🌱Check out the results at bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/cover-c…

🥕Curious about on-farm research in organic vegetable production? Join UBC researchers for an info session launching the next phase of the Regenerative Organic Climate Resilient Vegetables project. 📅May 8, 2025 🕖7–8:15 PM 💻Virtual Register: rcrv.eventbrite.ca

🫐 A recent study in BC found that nitrification inhibitors can slow the conversion of ammonium (preferred form of nitrogen for blueberries) to nitrate but effects on yield and soil nitrogen varied from year to year. 🌱 Read the full summary: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/improvi…

Over the last two years, we have worked hard to design and create thoughtful briefs, bringing BC's agricultural research to farmers. We want to know if they're working for you — are they clear? Are they useful? Let us know by filling out a 5-minute survey! ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_89…

More nitrogen isn’t always better for potatoes, farmers, or the environment! A study done in Fraser Valley, BC, found that applying extra nitrogen didn’t boost potato yields enough to justify the additional costs. 🥔 🌱 Read the summary: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/economi…

There's still time to grab a seat for @bcacarn and @bcfoodweb’s Seeding Success: Enhancing Farmer-Centered Science Communication! 💻🌱 🌾Find more info and register through the link below: bcacarn.ca/events/5801-2/

A recent study across 20 farms in southwest BC found that using compost to meet crop phosphorus needs, paired with a high-N organic fertilizer to meet nitrogen needs, can work well on farms with moderate to high soil P.🥬 🌱 Read the summary: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/balanci…

Register now🙌

Save the date for @BCACARN and @BCFoodWeb’s Seeding Success: Enhancing Farmer-Centered Science Communication! This 3-part virtual series happening on Feb 4, 11, and 18 will offer communications training for researchers, graduate students, agrologists, & consultants. Stay tuned!

A study conducted in Delta, BC found that enrolment in agricultural stewardship programs can improve on-farm climate mitigation & adaptation. Benefits include increased soil organic carbon stocks by 60-70% and enhanced soil water regulation🌾 Read summary: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/improvi…

A study conducted outside of Vernon, BC found that placing leftover logging debris from timber harvesting in riparian areas can deter livestock from grazing in these areas, leading to better riparian ecosystem health. 🪵🐮 Read the summary: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/moo-ve-…

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🌱 The BC Living Labs is hosting a cover crop field day on Westham Island next Thursday, Oct. 24. Drop in anytime from 1-3pm to see how 20 different types of winter cover crops compare when grown on a local field. Learn more and register at bclivinglab.ca/event/crop-var…

A study conducted in the Okanagan Valley found that large-dwarfing rootstock varieties Geneva 935 and Geneva 4814 led to fewer sun-damaged ‘Buckeye Gala’ apples (when water was sufficient) after an extreme heat event 🍎🌳 Check out our summary here: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/large-d…

🪺On farm biodiversity supports food production in many ways, from regulating pest populations to providing pollination. Learn how to monitor agrobiodiversity with a series of videos and factsheets produced by the BC Food Web, @ubcfarm, & @beatymuseum bcfoodweb.ca/surveying-farm…

Our latest research brief (part 3) is here! Just in time for apple season, “Preventing and detecting sunburn on ‘Ambrosia’ apples” offers tips on addressing sunburn browning 🍎 ☀️. Read it here: bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/prevent…

We're back with a second installment of the research brief series! This month’s research brief explores research on water use in “Sweetheart” cherry orchards in the Okanagan Valley 🍒💧 Read the full brief at bcfoodweb.ca/briefs/reducin…