OVERVIEW
NLFA has been carrying various projects throughout its almost 50 year history, in an effort to strengthen and grow the provincial agriculture industry. Projects such as Agriculture in the Classroom, the NL Young Farmers Initative, and the NL Living Lab are currently ongoing and are developing the industry, ensuring sustainability, and educating the next generation.
Agriculture in the Classroom NL (AITC-NL), is a not for profit, Registered Canadian charity and is part of the national organization aitc-canada.ca Agriculture in the Classroom Canada. AITC-NL is hosted by the www.nlfa.ca NL Federation of Agriculture. AITC-NL is designed to work in partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador educators and agriculture professionals. AITC-NL is intended to connect youth with agriculture and help Newfoundland and Labrador children increase their awareness of where our food comes from, how it is grown, the environmental impacts and understanding of why our food system is essential in society.
Funding to carry out the project is provided through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
NL Living Lab (NL-LL) is a project led by NLFA and carried out in collaboration with producers across the province and in partnership with Memorial University (Grenfell), Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
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Through the Agricultural Climate Solutions, NL-LL focuses on co-developing innovative climate solutions to sequester soil carbon sequestration and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Beneficial management practices proposed for the NL-LL were identified following the innovative living labs approach which emphasizes co-development and focuses on farmers’ needs.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture (NLFA), in partnership with NL Young Farmers, has undertaken a project to develop the Young Farmers’ organization and further the goals of young farmers in the province. The goal of the Young Farmers’ initiative is to increase visibility of NL Young Farmers and enhance the opportunities for young people in agriculture. NL Young Farmers is organizing activities, delivering public information seminars and workshops, and developing recruitment and promotional materials in order to provide enhanced services to their membership and to raise awareness of the agriculture industry.
Funding to carry out the project is provided through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
The Climate Change Adaptation Program consisted of an environmental scan of agriculture climate change initiatives that are taking place in Newfoundland and Labrador. NLFA conducted regional producer consultations to figure out what specific effects of climate change that producers were noticing on their farms and in their businesses. NLFA consulted with producers about what particular climate change best management practices they require more research on, etc. NLFA plans to continue this research into the future.
Funding for this program was provided through Building Adaptation Capacity in Key Economic Sectors, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. This project is completed.