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Living Lab - Eastern Prairies

In 2019, the Government of Canada announced a $10M Living Laboratories Initiative to advance collaborative agricultural science and help address some of Canada’s most pressing environmental issues. The Initiative is a network of Living Labs across the country where farmers, researchers and various partners work hand in hand on farms developing novel tools and techniques that are tailored to local environments and needs.

The idea is to have farmers work with scientists and other partners to conduct experiments right on their farms. Having farmers as equal partners gives them a direct voice in the innovation process. The aim is to develop more practical technologies and practices that make sense for Canadian farmers and their efforts to adjust to climate change, reduce water contamination, improve soil and water conservation, and maximize habitat capacity and biodiversity on agricultural landscapes.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Living Lab - Eastern Prairies program in Manitoba

The Value of Water Retention Beneficial Management Practices to Farmers and Landowners in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District - IISD REPORT

Throughout the Living Lab Eastern Prairie Program (LLEP), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) worked in conjunction with the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District (SRRWD) to evaluate the benefits of implementing water retention practices on rural properties.

One of the LLEP projects was to design and construct water retention structures to manage water flow, to provide a source for irrigation and livestock watering, and to provide a natural landscape with native plants for improved biodiversity. IISD provided great insight in evaluating the value of implementing these structures from the landowner level, to municipal, and to the watershed level.

Read IISD’s report The Value of Water Retention Beneficial Management Practices to Farmers and Landowners in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District here.

Living Lab Clubs Workshops

Thank you to all who participated in our Living Lab Clubs Workshops, as well as to those who presented and provided expertise for these events.

Workshop recordings now available for viewing on the Manitoba Association of Watersheds YouTube channel.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwOx1_qwFK4gsekCs0Mto6RrImvgt-wN0

Living Lab - Eastern Prairies Panel Discussion

A Living Lab Eastern Prairies panel discussion took place at the recent 2021 Manitoba Watersheds Conference at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. Participants of the panel provided details as well as updates related to the ongoing research that has been taking place within 4 watersheds, including the Swan Lake Watershed, North Shannon Creek Watershed, Main Drain Watershed and the Upper Oak Watershed.

a recording of the living lab eastern prairies panel from the 2021 manitoba watersheds conference is available on the manitoba association of watersheds youtube channel.

https://youtu.be/NjiSEH_u7so

Living Lab - Eastern Prairies Newsletter

Living Lab - Eastern Prairies Fact Sheets

Seeking Producer Input

We are inviting producers and farm operators to participate in two surveys of Living Lab-Eastern Prairies. Your input will help watershed districts, funding agencies, and other partners to better support farmers with their environmental and financial needs in the adoption of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs). The first survey examines barriers and incentives for BMP adoption at the farm level. To participate, please email dan@manitobawatersheds.org.

Learn More

Living Laboratories Initiative - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

To learn more, please email dan@manitobawatersheds.org.