The National Farmers Union issued another news release critical of the federal government’s cut to agriculture research budget and closing seven research centres.
Now is not the time to cut funding for research centres, farms and programs that are on the frontlines of agricultural climate science, it said, citing eight years of droughts in Southern Saskatchewan and two floods in British Columbia.
Public interest research on sustainable agriculture should be a central part of Canada's climate action strategy.
Research capacity is essential to facilitating transitions towards a more sustainable Canadian agricultural sector. Public science is a public benefit, it said.
“The harm will be felt for generations,” it said.
“Science isn’t a luxury, it’s an insurance policy.”
Halting agricultural research that has been on the cutting edge of emissions reductions research will cost the government billions, and will have long-lasting negative impacts on the climate and the food system. the NFU said.
