Good morning, Mr. Blois and committee members. Thank you for the invitation to appear today.
Perennia Food and Agriculture is a provincial development agency with the mission to support growth, transformation and economic development in Nova Scotia's agriculture, seafood and food and beverage sectors. Applied practical solutions and sharing information with farmers in the fields, in their barns and in their greenhouses is one of the key ways we fulfill this mission.
As mentioned, I'm Jennifer Haverstock. I'm a certified crop adviser and professional agrologist. I started with Perennia as a small fruit specialist six years ago, and I'm now the manager of horticulture.
With me today is Rosalie Gillis-Madden, also a certified crop adviser and professional agrologist, who has been Perennia's vegetable specialist for the past seven years. Recently, Perennia was selected to be a delivery partner for the federal on-farm climate action fund in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Rosalie has taken on a new role within Perennia as technical project manager for that program.
I want to acknowledge today that I join you from the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, located in the traditional land and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people, who have stewarded this land for centuries.
The knowledge and passion of Perennia's 25-member agriculture team is laser-focused on sustaining and advancing our farms. We're able to do this work because of our province's commitment to supporting our farming industry for the past 20 years. We answer producer technical questions, work with them to develop integrated management strategies, test new production methods and crop varieties and provide education and training to farmers across the province. We also play a key role as a two-way bridge between government and industry on agricultural production challenges and opportunities.
Atlantic Canada is unique, with humid conditions, acidic soils and numerous microclimates. We have a diverse mixed-farming landscape where it's very common to see a large-scale poultry operation next to a vineyard and next to a small vegetable farm. Nova Scotia's farmers have made the most of our climate and land resources. Areas of fertile land support a vibrant horticulture industry. Wild blueberries flourish on marginal lands and less arable land is often ideally suited for forage and livestock.
Nova Scotia's farmers are concerned about the environment and want to adopt practices that can help them to be more resilient in the face of climate change. Rising costs of everything from feed to fertilizer to fuel can make it hard for farmers to invest in these new sustainable farming practices.
Producers are stewards of the land, and they're business people, too, and Perennia specialists have worked hard to help producers understand how beneficial management practices can provide both environmental and economic sustainability. We have worked hard to share the message that improved nutrient management means that applied fertility goes directly to feeding the crop, giving farmers more return on their dollar. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and leaching to the environment.
We demonstrate to growers how cover cropping goes beyond the environmental benefit of sequestering carbon. It improves soil health, builds resilience, provides erosion control and improves water-holding capacity. Our specialists also work with growers to implement rotational grazing plans, which result in improved forage quality and reduced methane emissions from cattle and contribute to more resilient pastures and better livestock health overall.
While strides have been made to adapt to climate change through on-farm research, field tests of integrated management approaches and developing new technology tools for on-farm use, there is still much work to do.
For Nova Scotia farmers to mitigate and adapt to climate change, consideration should be given to the unique conditions our producers are facing, and here's what they need: policies and programs targeted to Atlantic Canada that make it easier for farms to invest in sustainable production practices; new investment in technologies that guide daily decisions on production and inputs; and continued access to on-call extension services and regionally specific research and advice.
It has been shown that the adoption of beneficial management practices increases when farmers understand the principles and have seen the practices implemented on their neighbour's farm and when the economic benefits are clear. That's what we're striving to do at Perennia. Enabling informed decision-making is at the heart of the research and extension services we provide to Nova Scotian farmers and is a key to a sustainable agriculture industry.
We look forward to continuing to work with government, industry organizations and producers to ensure that the agriculture industry is recognized and supported in the face of the changing climate and to ensure sustainable food security. The agriculture sector plays a significant role as an environmental steward.
Thank you for your time today.