Non-Conventional Agricultural Spaces and Climate Change: The Cases of Le Grenier boréal and Lufa Farms in Quebec, Canada

Mélanie Doyon,Juan-Luis Klein

doi:10.3390/cli9100148

Abstract

The objective of this text is to present a reflection on the link between local initiatives to combat food insecurity and actions adapting to climate change. To this end, two case studies of ongoing experiments in the Canadian province of Quebec will be presented and compared. While these two cases are very different in terms of location, production and people involved, they share the objective of bringing fresh and healthy food, produced locally, to the population of their territory and of rethinking the relationship of the community to nature through food production. Despite their significant differences, each of these two cases features actions for responding to problems that have a common cause: an agro-industrial food system that, by decoupling the locations of production and consumption, in order to maximize the economic profitability of the capital invested, has compromised both the health of citizens and the ecological balance.

Highlights

Climate change resulting from the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is certainly the most evident aspect of the environmental crisis facing the planet, even if it is not the only factor
We have seen that events caused by climate change, which are becoming more frequent, destabilize the world food system, which diminishes food security
Two case studies of ongoing experiments in the Canadian province of Quebec will be presented and compared. While these two cases are very different in terms of location, production and people involved, they share the objective of bringing fresh and healthy food, produced locally, to the population of their territory and of rethinking the relationship of the community to nature through food production

Summary

Introduction

Climate change resulting from the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is certainly the most evident aspect of the environmental crisis facing the planet, even if it is not the only factor. The options for dealing with this crisis must target the various facets of human life, such as health, transportation, agriculture, finance and water, and how these interlock with nature [2]. We have seen that events caused by climate change, which are becoming more frequent, destabilize the world food system, which diminishes food security An example of this is the case of Russia, which in 2010, fearing that it would be unable to meet its domestic demand following a major heat wave, decided to stop exporting wheat. This caused an increase of more than 40% in the price of wheat, making it more difficult for citizens in several regions of the world to obtain this grain [4]

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Discussion

Conclusion