| Crop | Soybean |
|---|---|
| Start Date | 2014 |
| End Date | 2017 |
| Principal Investigator | Entz, Martin , University of Manitoba |
| MPSG Financial Support | $20,000 |
| Total Project Funding | $180,000 |
| Report | PB #77 Non-GM soybean variety testing under organic conditions | PB # 77 Farming System Co-Design_A New Approach to Farm Planning |
Research Objectives
- Test non-GM soybean varieties for suitability to growing conditions on Manitoba organic farms
- Offer technical support to organic farmers who want to begin growing organic soy/edible beans and conventional farmers who want to transition to or diversify into organic production
Project Description
Twelve non-GM soybean varieties were tested on organic farms across Manitoba in 2015 and 2016. Results indicate that varieties differed in their response to weeds and their yield stability in various environments. Organic soybean and edible bean production provides a diversification option for conventional and organic farmers alike. The knowledge generated through this project also contributes to the general sustainability of organic production. Technical support was offered through a “farm system co-design” process. This is a collaborative process that includes conducting farm scans, followed by development of farm plan options, discussion and revision of farm plans, and implementation and further adaptation of the plans. Farmer participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the process of developing the farm plan. They placed great value on the one-on-one interactions with researchers and on the connections formed with other participating farmers, indicating that customizing technical knowledge for specific contexts and creating “communities of learning” are useful for supporting changes on farms.