Episode #31 with Wilson Fink, Natural Systems Agriculture Lab

Wilson Fink is a research technician with the Natural Systems Agriculture Lab in the University of Manitoba's Plant Science Department. He has a BSc. in Agroecology.

More online at the Natural Systems Agriculture Lab website: https://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/naturalagriculture/index.html

In prairie Canada, natural systems agriculture remains a goal rather than a reality. Currently, inputs are at the centre rather than having the farming system as the centre. All is built on the system – the possibilities are ultimately determined by the nature of the farming system.

Most of our current efforts to make agriculture more sustainable focus on "accumulating the best from tradition" (Wes Jackson, Land Institute). Jackson states that "Natural systems agriculture is 'profoundly different' from what usually passes for sustainable agriculture, which means reducing use of agrochemicals."

Why then do we use the term "Natural systems agriculture" to describe our work? First, we are committed to a fundamental change in the way agriculture is practiced. Second, we believe that using nature as the standard is the best approach for building this new agricultural system. Finally, Canadian prairie farmers have a strong conservation ethic, and have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to the land and to "farming in nature’s image". Farmers are active partners in our research.

More about the University of Manitoba’s Agroecology program: https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/programs/agroecology.html