Farmers are caught in market situations that, in a way, make them prisoners of the crops they can sell and export, such as soybeans and grain corn when these are not consumed locally. Alternatives must be provided that will have effects on soil health. However, no one wants to develop these solutions because of the risks they pose and the fear of the unknown.
At the moment, a broad consensus has been established in Quebec—and it's also gaining support from our colleagues in other provinces—regarding the need for reference plots for testing other solutions, for example, by rotating with new species. To do that, you need plots. Research teams are also needed in Canada's various regions. The recent closures go in the opposite direction of the collective effort and the solution we need for future generations.
In Quebec, right now, we're structuring the entire network of what we call “flagship plots” to provide alternatives to producers and test them, such as long rotations with forage species to restore the health of compacted soils, which has now deteriorated too much. I'm also thinking about rotations using agroforestry systems that will provide ecosystem services beneficial to society.
I won't hide from you the fact that the recent closures have had a profound impact on our planning, so these decisions will reduce our ability to provide solutions to the next generation.