A partnership to address key economic and ecological concerns in BC Berries: Pest management, pollination services, and alternative cropping systems

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This proposal addresses new economic opportunities for the BC Berry industry in landscape transformation, bio-surveillance, and precision management. Specifically, we propose to use a collaborative network approach, with research expertise in pest management, pollination biology, ecosystem services, and landscape ecology, coupled with management expertise in land conservation and commercial crop production, to determine the ecological and economic sustainability of implementing habitat amendments on farm. This will include longer-term evaluation of existing experimental habitat amendments on participating farms involved in current research partnerships with project team members. Importantly, these longer-term evaluations will provide critical information for growers and the berry industry in supporting landscape transformation to achieve production goals, as single season measurements fail to address interannual variation, including extreme weather events. Additionally, through partnership with multiple berry producer groups in the Lower Fraser Valley and in collaboration with Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, we will design and pilot new cover crop blends within production alleyways that provide multiple ecosystem services (i.e., pest management, pollinator habitat, nutrient and weed management) and with the potential to support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission targets. Finally, in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and the BC Blueberry and Raspberry Councils and Strawberry Association, we propose to deploy a digital detection web using custom designed and open-source insect camera traps with paired specimen sequencing. These tools will be used to detect and monitor emergent and invasive insect pest and support the short- and long-term needs of growers to understand and predict seasonal and climate related changes in pest abundances, and evaluate and quickly adapt management practices.