BIBLE HILL - Dr. David Burton's research is now reaching into the ground. Literally.
Burton, the lead researcher and investigator at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College on greenhouse gas emissions, sat in the front row Tuesday morning during an announcement at the college's Cummings Hall that saw more than $850,000 of Canadian government money go toward the research he's been working on since joining the college.
"This funding extends the research that we've been doing over the last 10 years, which is looking at long-term nitrogen management in Atlantic Canada," he said in the research lab following the announcement.
The funding, announced by Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley MP Scott Armstrong, comes from the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program.
The project will employ three full-time researchers, as well as about a dozen others.
"We're trying to develop a soil test for nitrogen that would better account for the effects on the environment of nitrogen soil supplies," said Burton.
"By increasing the efficiency, producers can improve their profitability and decrease environmental impacts through nitrogen leaching and greenhouse gases."
Because of the funding, the next step in the research is beginning now, with researchers going under farm conditions.
"We're going to Prince Edward Island to work with potato producers to see if they can implement these tools, produce results and reduce their impacts," said Burton.
Potato farmers on the island were chosen, said Burton, because of their concerns about effects of nitrogen, especially when it comes to their groundwater, which they heavily rely on.
Partnering on the research are both Cavendish Foods and McCain's, and Burton said the two companies are very engaged and want to find solutions.
Dr. Bernie MacDonald, co-president of the college, said the funding is a concrete example of the commitment by the federal government to research and innovation in Atlantic Canada.
"It is this kind of investment in our innovative research that contributes greatly to our ability to support healthy and sustainable communities, said MacDonald.
"It's this kind of problem-solving research that is critical to the future sustainability of the agriculture industry in the region."
Armstrong said the federal government was proud to support such a project, which is the next in line in the five-year, $27-million AGGP initiative.
"Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for crop growth and assuring a secure food supply for a growing population," he said.
"This research will explore ways for our farmers to apply nitrogen more efficiently while maintaining and growing units. That is good news for our environment, and that is good news for our farmers' pocketbooks."
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