Conference Agenda

PAMI is performing research aimed at exploring the variables that impact agricultural productivity and the overall economic advantages and disadvantages of wetland drainage scenarios. The availability of yield data and field path data obtained over multiple years provides the opportunity for an observational study of the yield response in distinct field zones including the upland acres, the buffer zone around a wetland, and the wetland itself.

A financial model was created based on yield response in each zone to drive scenarios of no wetland drainage, partial drainage, and full drainage. Crop values and agronomic assumptions were applied based the Saskatchewan Crop Planning Guide. Consistently, the models showed an economic incentive to the producer for draining wetlands of $18 to $33 per cultivated acre.

The findings reveal that drained and farmed wetlands produce slightly lower yields then field average with substantial variability due to crop type, soil zone and precipitation. Furthermore, it is found that the effects of wetlands on crop yields extend well beyond the wetland where noticeably higher yields are found in the surrounding 50 m buffer zones of drained versus undrained wetlands. The results demonstrate the importance of considering wetland and buffer zone yield effects in wetland drainage decisions and improve our understanding of the costs and potentially required incentives for wetland conservation. Ongoing work explores the relationships of percent wetland area to overlap of farming inputs and to nuisance cost and the validation of the buffer yield effect using pre- and post-drainage yield data.

Food loss and waste (FLW) is a major sustainability challenge at all levels from local to global. FLW in industrial, commercial, and institutional (IC&I) sectors is large in quantity, wide in scope, and complex in source. Information regarding the scale, patterns, and environmental impacts of food waste in IC&I sectors is particularly fragmented. The goal of this research, therefore, is to better characterize the quantity, distribution, and impact of FLW in the IC&I sectors and recommend better strategies for managing FLW. Using Montreal as a case study, a geospatial model will be developed of patterns and the carbon emissions of food waste from the IC&I sectors. First, fragmented data from various IC&I sector stakeholders will be gathered within a common framework to build a systematized database of FLW across different sources and actors. Second, spatial analysis and systems modeling will be used to show the spatial distribution and identify spatial factors of FLW on a city scale. Third, life cycle assessment (LCA) will be used to estimate the carbon emissions related to FLW management. Finally, strategies will be investigated to reduce carbon emissions from FLW flow paths. This study will improve data, decision-making tools, and policy strategies for FLW management at all levels of government.

The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) poses a significant global environmental challenge. Landfills are important sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly methane. However, accurate estimation of methane emissions from landfills in Canada remains challenging due to the lack of primary data and accurate models. The goal in this research is to improve estimates of methane emissions from Canadian landfills by using the one at Complexe Environ Connexions, Terrebonne, Quebec, as a case study. Several techniques are being used to measure methane fluxes, including eddy covariance, automated flux chambers, and smart survey flux chambers. Together, these techniques capture high-quality methane emission data, including quantification of any diurnal and seasonal variations. These data are being used together with published information to calibrate and validate computational models such as LandGEM. This research will inform the development of sustainable engineering solutions for the mitigation of methane emissions from Canadian landfills. The research is aligned with Canada's climate objectives and global agreements, thereby reinforcing the nation's commitment to reducing GHG emissions and promoting sustainable waste management practices.

The depletion of nutrients in the soil and the accumulation of nutrients in the water bodies are two major contradicting environmental issues. Hence, it is imperative to recover these nutrients from the water bodies and introduce them into the soil with slow-release properties to prevent further accumulation in the water bodies. Therefore, in this study, a nanocellulose based nanocomposite was fabricated to recover and release the nutrients. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized through different techniques such as X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry to decipher its structural properties, chemical composition, and thermal properties. The specific surface area and the pore distribution were determined through Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The surface charge and the stability of the nanocomposite was evaluated using Zeta sizer and the morphology was evaluated through Scanning Electron Microscopy. Further, the adsorption of the nutrients by the nanocomposites from wastewater were examined. Subsequently, the effect of different parameters influencing the adsorption including the pH, temperature, and concentration of the adsorbents and adsorbate were evaluated. The influence of the commonly present ions in the water and the organic matter were also evaluated. In addition, the reusability of the adsorbent was examined. Finally, the nutrient release studies were performed to understand its potential application of the nanocellulose nanocomposite as a slow-release organic fertilizer.

In response to the challenge of reducing GHG emissions and achieving carbon neutrality in livestock production, we propose a holistic systems approach tailored to integrated swine and corn/soybean systems. Our strategy encompasses integrated changes to cropping systems, feed production, and manure management, focusing on producing high-moisture corn and integrating anaerobic co-digestion systems to mitigate emissions.

Fundamental changes include harvesting high-moisture corn to eliminate grain drying and extend the growing season for cover crops, thus reducing carbon emissions and enhancing cover crop production opportunities. Our proposed approach incorporates co-digestion of swine manure, corn stover silage, and winter cover crops, alongside techniques to mitigate CH4, NH3, and N2O emissions from animal housing, manure management, and crop production.

Implementation of these changes requires adjustments throughout the production system. Row crop producers must transition to earlier corn harvests and cover crop planting, while farmers and feed processors must adapt storage and handling practices for high-moisture grain. Additionally, the feed production industry must effectively process high-moisture corn into swine feed, and the pork industry must adopt feeds derived from high-moisture grains. Furthermore, developing co-digestion systems supports these changes and facilitates biomass processing. Successful implementation hinges on the cooperation and adaptation of all stakeholders within this circular system.

This paper presents a comprehensive system plan detailing proposed technology changes and addressing obstacles to implementation. We aim to establish a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to swine and corn/soybean production through these integrated solutions while significantly reducing GHG emissions.

There has been a surge of interest in sustainable diets due to the growing climate crisis across the globe. In response, several attempts to estimate sustainable dietary intake scenarios have emerged for many countries including Canada. Yet, the influence of age, gender, and spatial distribution details have not been adequately incorporated into the existing proposed dietary scenarios. These factors vary the type, quantity, and nutrient quality requirements of dietary intake and in turn may impact the associated environmental implications. Therefore, this study examines the variations induced by age, gender, and spatial distribution in the environmental, nutritional, and economic implications of dietary intake among Canadians. Dietary intake data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, CCHS 2015, are examined with the SPSS Statistical software as well as Microsoft Excel models. Environmental impact data from dataFIELD and Our World in Data were sourced for environmental calculations. Also, food price data from the Food Price Hub of Statistics Canada were employed to compute the dietary cost. The expected impacts associated with the dietary intake across the life stages, gender, and provincial locations are highlighted as well as spatial hotspots. The application of these models is useful for outlining easy-to-adopt targeted sustainable dietary patterns for Canadians in the global bid to build sustainable and resilient food systems. Moreover, these findings will also form the basis for further work focused on designing sustainable dietary transition scenarios for all consumers in Canada.

This study presents the results of preparing a charcoal briquette derived from a combination of pine wood sawdust and pine cone biomass without any binders. The investigation focuses on the effects of hydrothermal heat pretreatments (HT) at temperatures of 280, 320, and 360 °C, alongside ozonation pretreatment (OZ) at durations of 60, 75, and 90 minutes. For each experiment, the pretreated samples were densified to prepare biomass briquette and then carbonized at 430 °C to prepare charcoal briquette without any binders. All experiments maintained consistent conditions regarding compressive force, initial humidity, particle size, and biomass material composition. Thermal and physical properties of the charcoal briquettes were measured for each experiment, with results subjected to statistical analysis. The findings showed that charcoal briquettes subjected to HT pretreatment and ozonation exhibit higher combustion character index and lower ash yields than those without pretreatment.

Furthermore, the pretreated samples demonstrated superior physical properties, including mass density and compressive strength, compared to untreated samples. Based on the research outcomes, optimal conditions for charcoal briquette production from pine wood waste and sawdust pretreated by HT method at 280 °C, and an OZ method duration of 75 minutes. It was found that the charcoal briquette prepared by pine wood sawdust and pine cone biomass pretreated by an OZ duration of 75 minutes and an HT pretreatment at 280 °C showed the best combustion and physical characteristics.