Release Date: June 7, 2023
Cutting green-house emissions – one of the most dominant narratives about climate change. Policy focuses on them, global agreements target them and often proposed solutions address them: all reasons the production team wanted to focus an entire episode to try understand the basics of cutting emissions in the ag sector in Canada. Join co-host Stuart Oke and guest Darrin Qualman of the National Farmers Union to learn more about calorie math, the historical influence of nitrogen in our input practices and how its possible to cut emissions while growing farmer’s net incomes.
To take a deeper dive into emissions from Canada’s ag scene, check out these links.
- darrinqualman.com
- National Farmers Union – Climate Change
- National Farmers Union – Agriculture GHG Gas Emissions in Canada
- National Farmers Union – Nitrogen Fertilizer: Critical nutrient, Key Farm Input, and Major Environmental Problem
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- International Sixth Assessment Report – Synthesis Report
Cast
Stuart Oke — Co-host/Executive Producer
Stuart is a young farmer from Eastern Ontario who, alongside his partner Nikki, owns and operates Rooted Oak Farm, a 12 acre organic vegetable and cut flower farm. After years of renting land Rooted Oak in 2020 relocated to Eastern Ontario, and the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudensaunee and Oneida Peoples. In addition to loving food and taking pride in growing food that sustains people, the farm was founded on the idea that farming is a political act, one capable of creating great change. Stuart is a former Youth President for the National Farmers Union and Vice President for Canadian Organic Growers. He chairs the National Farmers Union climate committee and is a contributor to Canada's Sustainable Agriculture Strategy. He also works on the Farm Resilience and Mentorship Program with the National Farmer Coalition Farmers for Climate Solutions.
www.rootedoak.ca | @rootedoakfarm
Darrin Qualman — Guest
Darrin is Director of Climate Crisis Policy and Action for Canada’s National Farmers Union. He is a former farmer and the author of the 2019 report Tackling the Farm Crisis and the Climate Crisis and the 2019 book Civilization Critical: Energy, Food, Nature, and the Future. His research, writing, and educational pursuits over the past 25 years have all aimed at creating a long-term, big-picture view of food, farming, and energy systems. He is active in social justice and food system struggles and has helped organize many campaigns, including the successful struggle to prevent the introduction of genetically modified wheat into Canada. He has academic degrees in history, biology, and political studies.