SP0266: Toward a Sustainable Macdonald Farm

Our idea is to investigate more sustainable agricultural field practices for the Macdonald Campus Farm. First, we will request Big Wave pre-application funding for a feasibility study which will feed into a strategic plan. Five external experts and a student worker will be hired to collect necessary data to create the feasibility study. Next, a multistakeholder group (Farm Research and Teaching Committee) will combine student & community feedback with the feasibility study results in order to write a long term strategic plan. The strategic plan will be synthesized by a hired student, and a graphic designer will create an attractive executive summary. With this strategic plan, we will be able to garner high level support and funding for the transition, and complete a Big Wave request to implement the changes outlsined in the plan.

The feasibility study will evaluate the following scenarios: 1) current practices ; 2) areas that can be improved to be more ecologically sound; and 3) potential conversion to organic production. It will be important to canvas and include all of those who use the Farm (professors, students, Farm staff) to ensure their needs are met. The feasibility study will be completed with the collaboration of Farm employees, scientists, sustainability officers, student organizations, and the afore-mentioned group of 5 independent professionals, which will include an agroeconomist, field water management engineer, forage specialist, organic crop specialist and a soil fertility agronomist. These professionals have a PhD or are recommended by the Coordination des Services-Conseil. The use of external professionals at McGill University is not a disavowal of the expertise of current researchers and professors on campus since they will be consulted during the process, but rather for legal reasons, the reduction of conflicts of interest, protection through liability insurance, and access to MAPAQ funding for advisor services and other financial programs when it comes time to implement a strategic plan. The MAPAQ will cover $28,014.00 of the costs related to professionals.

During the process, we will hire a student to assist with the various processes, including digitizing historical data, updating inventory of farm equipment, and participating in meetings and consultation with stakeholders. We will also explore the possibility of incorporating the design of the consultation process as part of a student project, perhaps in a business management class, and ask MCSS to canvass students for their opinions. The recommendations of the external professionals and Farm stakeholders, along with the results of the student survey, will be reviewed by the Farm Research and Teaching Committee, chaired by the Assoc. Dean of Research at Macdonald Campus. This committee will synthesize the recommendations, and a student will be hired to write the recommendations into a strategic plan, to be approved by the Dean. Once we have a strategic plan, we will then assess the resources needed to implement the plan and apply for funding through MAPAQ programs and the SPF Big Wave program.

Ultimately, the goals are to direct the Macdonald Farm to more sustainable field operations in line with McGill's Climate and Sustainability Strategy, to create conditions for accurate and visionary research, ensure a good relationship and reputation with our urban neighbours, mitigate financial risk, provide a roadmap for long-term investment, and set up a monitoring system to follow up on actions and ensure accountability for the new practices implemented.