On the surface, this episode may seem like a story about boosting blueberry production, but it’s a tale of how local research can shape not only an industry, but an entire sector. This work is addressing challenges facing all agriculture crops, like disease, pests, and climate change.

Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-agricultural-resilience-the-blueberry-effect

In Season 3, Episode 3 – Agricultural Resilience: The Blueberry Effect, we cover:

(02:37 ) Challenges faced by the wild blueberry industry before hiring a specialized researcher
(4:59 ) How research has helped the industry understand and develop solutions to challenges, like pests and diseases
(11:52 ) Current challenges faced by growers
(17:09 ) Impacts of climate events on the crops
(20:25 ) How the blueberry research is relevant to other agricultural crops
(22:18 ) Impact beyond Nova Scotia’s borders
(24:19 ) Future of the industry

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. David Percival is a Professor at Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences.

Gary Brown has worked in the blueberry sector for more than 40 years. He currently does work with Millen Farms, a family-owned sustainable berry farm.

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