SAFS Projects - Bishop's University

Sustainability and Agroecosystems Research Projects

The Educational Farm is a place to learn creative solutions to sustainability challenges in food systems. Established in 2019, the Educational Farm is a place to practice experiential learning by exploring, experimenting and modelling what future sustainable agroecosystems could look like.

Discover the fascinating research projects our professors and students have been working on.

Strawberry Mulch Research

Strawberries grown at Bishop's University as part of a mulch research project

Led by Dr. Mirella Aoun

The goal of this project is to explore alternatives to traditional plastic mulches used in commercial strawberry production. The mulches being tested are red plastic, black plastic, switchgrass straw, and shredded office paper.

Kernza®

SAFS Partnership with Seed Change

Kernza® is a perennial grain that is rich in protein and low in gluten. It has deep roots, and the stems can be used for bedding or mulch after harvesting the grain. Bishop’s is the only research plot east of Manitoba growing Kernza®.

Orchard Trees

Led by Dr. Mirella Aoun

In the 1980’s, a dozen apple, pear, and plum trees were planted by the students and staff of Champlain’s Farming Technology program. These trees offer a taste of what will soon to come, a larger, more diverse orchard set to be established in 2025.

Permaculture Guild

Led by Prof. Jennifer Downing

The permaculture guild is a collection of primarily perennial and biennial plants that work together to provide services such as attracting beneficial insects and pollinators, creating a diverse habitat, repelling pests, and sequestering nutrients.

Lighthouse Lab

At the Lighthouse Lab, we believe a radically better food future is possible. Our research explores what improved food systems could look like and identifies pathways for transforming them. “Lighthouses” are innovative farms and food system initiatives that serve as “pockets of the future in the present.” Dr. Vivian Valencia, Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Julia Ros Cuellar, SAFS collaborators, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, and interns work closely with lighthouse farmers and food system actors to understand their challenges and identify leverage points that could drive meaningful change in the system.

Innovation in Raspberry Production

Students working in the field as part of the raspberry production project.

Led by Dr. Mirella Aoun

Approximately 600 raspberry plants were established by the practicum classes that took place on the farm in the springs of 2023 & 2024. The goal of this plot is to examine how tall and narrow beds improve raspberry growth by keeping the roots raised out of stagnant water.

Seed Saving Garden

Led by Prof. Jennifer Downing

The seed saving garden is dedicated to saving seed from heirloom and open pollinated plants, ultimately creating a seed bank of ancestral varieties well-adapted to the local environment.

Maple Production

Led by the student-run SAFS Club

All of the maple production at the educational farm is done by the sustainable agriculture and food systems (SAFS) club. Currently, sap is boiled in a mobile sugar shack built by 4 students under the supervision of Prof. Bruno Courtemanche in 2022. Eventually, a permanent maple production shack will be established near the farm.

CANberries Project

Led by Dr. Mirella Aoun and Dr. Darren Bardati, in partnership with Université de Sherbrooke

A prototype of a solar passive greenhouse was established on Bishop’s campus where local raspberries are being produced out-of season in winter-spring and fall. This agtech project that integrates cutting-edge technologies in renewable energy and plant production is part of the homegrown innovation challenge funded by the Weston Family Foundation.

The First Supper

Led by Dr. Vivian Valencia
The First Supper symbolizes the inaugural meal of our aspirational future—a world where food systems are sustainable, just, and equitable. This project brings together faculty and students from SAFS, Drama, Arts Administration, Knowledge Mobilization, and other departments at Bishop’s University, along with food system stakeholders who are eager to reimagine our regional food system. It fosters dialogue and collaborative problem-solving through a variety of events, including visioning workshops, theatre performances, rapid prototyping exercises, a festival, and the actual First Supper. These activities will take place throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.

Soil Conservation Research

Led by Dr. Mirella Aoun in partnership with the Université de Laval

A rotation of beans, carrots, zucchini, and corn are being tested. Soil nutrients will be tested over multiple years to determine the impact of the crop rotation and mulches used on the nutrients present in the soil.

Switchgrass

In partnership with Seed Change

The educational farm is growing 8 different varieties of switchgrass. Data is collected on the rate of development and yield of the varieties to compare the differences between each variety. The switchgrass straw is used as mulch in our gardens.

Potato Breeding Research

Led by Dr. Darren Bardati in partnership with Seed Change

The aim of this project is to develop new varieties of organic seed potatoes that are resistant to late blight and well suited to growing in low input organic settings. This project was funded in part by the MAPAQ.

Urban Garden

Led by Prof. Jennifer Downing & Dr. Mirella Aoun

The urban garden consists of 4 raised beds, a bean teepee, and 5 5-gallon containers. The garden serves as a demonstration plot for the Urban Agriculture class.

Hedgerows at the Educational Farm

Led by Dr. Jane Morrison

In 2022, three biodiverse hedgerows were established at the Educational Farm. These are field margins comprising a diversity of shrubs and perennial herbaceous plants. Hedgerows provide many benefits: they serve as windbreaks, provide habitat for beneficial insects, prevent soil erosion, increase water retention, etc. When the hedgerows are mature, we will evaluate their agricultural contribution compared to annual floral margins.

Assessing Ecosystem Service Multifunctionality in Hedgerows at Small-Scale Farms

MSc project supervised by Dr. Jane Morrison

For this MSc project, we are partnering with 20 ecological farms across the region. Data will be collected in hedgerows and adjacent crops to evaluate the effect of landscape and hedgerow composition on ecosystem service multifunctionality (i.e., their ability to simultaneously provide multiple ecosystem services).

And More Research Projects

Solidarity-oriented Food Distribution
Led by Dr. Bryan Dale and Dr. Juan Francisco Núñez. With Collectif Récolte, a Montreal-based social enterprise we are studying solidarity-oriented distribution and pricing approaches for Quebec’s local and ecologically produced food products.

Netting Systems as an Alternative to Pesticide Use
Led by Dr. Mirella Aoun, Dr. Bryan Dale, Dr. Juan Francisco Núñez. We are studying the social, economic, environmental, and technical aspects of the potential for netting systems to reduce the use of pesticides in small fruit production in Quebec.

Basic Income as a Tool for Food Systems Resilience
Led by Dr. Bryan Dale. Working with colleagues at universities across the country, Dr. Dale is exploring the potential for a basic income guarantee to increase resilience in agriculture, in fisheries, and in relation to food insecurity across Canada.

Co-operation and Infrastructure for Ecological Food Distribution
Led by Dr. Bryan Dale. With a focus on Quebec and Ontario, Dr. Dale is analyzing the potential for increased cooperation (among farmers and consumers), and for mid-scale infrastructure, to contribute to a more agroecological food system.

Agroecological Transitions: Examining a Paradigm Shift in our Food System
Led by Dr. Jane Morrison and Dr. Darren Bardati. This study examines transitions in farming practices towards greater sustainability and resilience, based on the field of agroecology. We have created an extensive database of ecological farms in Quebec (certified and non-certified organic). Surveys and interviews are carried out to assess the status of our provincial transition, as well as the greatest obstacles and time/resource investments of these farms. A main goal of this research is to help inform future avenues for research.

Assessing Ecosystem Service Multifunctionality in Hedgerows at Small-Scale Farms
MSc project supervised by Dr. Jane Morrison. For this MSc project, we are partnering with 20 ecological farms across the region. Data will be collected in hedgerows and adjacent crops to evaluate the effect of landscape and hedgerow composition on ecosystem service multifunctionality (i.e., their ability to simultaneously provide multiple ecosystem services).

Join Us

As you can see, there are many exciting research projects taking place at Bishop’s!

When you join the SAFS program, you will participate in many of these diverse projects, giving you the opportunity to follow your interests towards graduate studies or an exciting career.

So what are you waiting for?

Apply Now