Good morning. I would like to introduce myself. I am a professor at UQAT, an expert on carbon sequestration in agricultural soils and director of the Institut de recherche en agriculture et agroalimentaire.
I will begin my remarks by drawing inspiration form the words of my colleague, Professor Jean Caron. Political circles and civil society rarely realize that people around the world are 30 centimetres away from famine. What does that mean? It means that all of our food depends on the top 30 centimetres of soil on the earth's surface. Perennial forage plants help enrich soils, so healthy forage production and healthy soils go hand in hand.
Soils and forage plants provide a number of other ecological services to society. They can sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support biodiversity, and regulate water and nutrient cycles. Despite this, the science is clear: Our soils continue to degrade, especially in Quebec and eastern Canada, and their ability to produce food is declining.
Research on soils and forage plants is vital, particularly at the Quebec City research centre, to counter this degradation. The announced closure of research centres is a true scientific disaster that will set us back by several decades. The loss of expertise in forage plants and of long-term field studies will have an incalculable negative impact on society and the agricultural community.
At UQAT, our work is rooted in the local community. Thanks to our complementary expertise, we've managed to put in place two unique systems under real-world farm operating conditions—one in agroforestry and the other focused on the revitalization of abandoned farmland. These two production systems are promising for the future, but their current status is precarious.
In the current climate and geopolitical context, it is essential that Canada increase its food self-sufficiency and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Significant funds must to be invested, particularly in universities, to support infrastructure and research staff focused on soils and forage crops. Time is of the essence, as changes are occurring faster than our ability to adapt to them.
Thank you very much.