How Journal Food Policy Shapes Sustainable Agriculture Research and Practice in Canada

Food Policy, a leading peer-reviewed journal published by Elsevier, serves as the primary international platform where agricultural policy research translates into actionable governance frameworks that shape on-farm decisions across Canada. For farmers in Alberta and beyond, this journal bridges the gap between academic research and the programs that determine conservation funding, crop insurance parameters, and market access requirements you navigate each season.
The journal publishes evidence-based analysis on food security, supply chain resilience, trade policy, and sustainable production systems. When Canadian governments design…

What Is Eco Mulching (and How Does It Work in Regenerative Systems)?

Eco mulching is the practice of using living plants as a ground cover beneath or between cash crops to suppress weeds, conserve soil moisture, and build organic matter without relying on synthetic herbicides or petroleum-based plastic mulch. Instead of bare soil or plastic sheeting, farmers establish perennial or self-seeding species that form a living carpet, often cut back or mown at strategic times to minimize competition while delivering the protective benefits of traditional mulch. This approach aligns closely with …

Youth-Led Participatory Action Research: Empowering the Next Generation of Organic Farming Advocates

Youth-led participatory action research (YPAR) puts young people at the centre of organic certification systems, not as tokens or trainees, but as co-researchers who identify challenges, gather data, and drive solutions within Participatory Guarantee Systems. This approach transforms how prairie communities verify organic practices by tapping into the energy, digital fluency, and fresh perspectives of the next generation while building their commitment to sustainable agriculture.
In Alberta’s organic sector, aging farmer demographics and succession challenges threaten the continuity of …

What Is Zuni Farming (and How Does It Work)?

Zuni farming is a centuries-old Indigenous agro-aquaculture system developed by the Zuni people of the American Southwest that combines waffle gardens, terraced fields, and runoff harvesting to grow crops in arid conditions with minimal water inputs. This traditional approach captures every drop of rainfall and snowmelt through carefully engineered earthworks, channeling water to crop beds while preventing soil erosion and maximizing infiltration.
For Canadian farmers facing increasingly unpredictable precipitation patterns, particularly across the Prairies, Zuni techniques offer proven solutions. The system’s core principles …

What Is Risk Management Farming (and How Does It Work)?

Risk management farming is the practice of identifying, assessing, and addressing the various threats that can disrupt your agricultural operation, then implementing strategies to minimize their impact on your farm’s productivity and financial health. It’s a proactive approach that treats uncertainty not as something to fear, but as a normal part of farming that you can prepare for and navigate successfully.
For Canadian farmers operating in 2026, the stakes have never been higher. Climate volatility brings unprecedented weather swings across the Prairies. Input costs fluctuate dramatically. Market access can shift …

What Are Agricultural Practices (and How Are They Evolving)?

Agricultural practices are the techniques and methods farmers use to produce crops and livestock, from preparing soil and planting seeds to managing pests and harvesting yields. These practices form the backbone of food production and land stewardship, shaping everything from the quality of what we grow to the health of our soil, water, and broader ecosystems.
For Canadian farmers working the diverse landscapes of Alberta and beyond, understanding the full range of agricultural practices isn’t academic. It’s the difference between a field that thrives year after year and one that struggles with declining fertility or …