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Archives: Captivate Podcasts

March 7, 2022

UBC field trials: Using tarps as overwinter soil cover

In this episode, we’ll be learning about on-farm research trials that examined the role that silage tarps can play in managing agricultural soils in the winter months in British Columbia. […]

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March 7, 2022

UBC field trials: Balancing nitrogen and phosphorus on organic vegetable farms

In this episode we discuss on-farm research trials that compared different combinations of organic amendments (composts and organic fertilizer) and their impact to crop yield, soil carbon, input costs, and […]

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January 19, 2022

The COABC Demystified

This episode: a COABC explainer that aims to help you understand the organization’s role in BC’s organic industry, and the relationship between certified organic operators, the province’s certifying bodies, and […]

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December 4, 2021

Remembering Linda Edwards

In November of 2020, we lost someone who made many meaningful contributions to the organic farming movement in British Columbia and Canada, and who played a very important role in the […]

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December 4, 2021

Organic Fruit Tree Management Manual: Its Past & Future

In 1994 the newly-formed Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia identified the lack of reliable information on organic crop production as an important obstacle to the growth of the organic agricultural industry. From […]

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November 17, 2021

Wholesale Market Perspectives: Nature’s Fare Markets

This episode features an installment on the theme of wholesale buyer perspectives. This time, I talk to Nick Johnston of Nature’s Fare Markets. Nick manages the buying for the prepared […]

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November 17, 2021

The 2020 Update to the Canadian Organic Standards

Every five years, the Canadian Organic Standards are updated to keep the standards current. Each update follows a multi-year process of review, during which anyone can submit requests for revisions. […]

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October 28, 2021

The Soil Microbiome

This episode: BC Ministry of Agriculture Organic Industry Specialist Emma Holmes in conversation with Miranda Hart, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UBC Okanagan. A good deal of Miranda’s work focuses on the biology […]

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October 13, 2021

Biological Control of Wireworms

This episode, I speak with Todd Kabaluk, a research biologist for Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, about his research on the use of entomopathogens as a biological control for wireworms. 

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October 13, 2021

Bug Wars: A fun conversation about biological pest control

Brian Spencer was trained as a molecular biologist, but he found his way to biological pest control and never left. This episode, a conversation with Brian, who has devoted his […]

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October 4, 2021

Can Berry Pomace Help Us Combat Antibiotic-Resistance in Salmonella?

Another chapter in our Research Roundup. This time, Dr. Kelly Ross, a researcher with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, tells us about research on harnessing the antibiotic properties of berry pomace […]

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October 2, 2021

Orchard Floor Management and More with David Granatstein

This episode features guest interviewer Molly Thurston’s interview with David Granatstein. Molly is a horticulturalist, agrologist, and co-owner of Claremont Ranch Organics, an organic orchard in Lake Country, BC. David […]

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September 9, 2021

Wholesale Market Perspectives: Urban Harvest

This episode features an installment on the theme of wholesale buyer perspectives. This time, I speak with Lisa McIntosh of Kelowna-based grocery delivery service Urban Harvest. Lisa sources a LOT of […]

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September 9, 2021

Seed Production Basics: Sal Dominelli of Sweet Rock Farm

This episode features a chapter in our miniseries on seed production. This time, my conversation with Sal Dominelli of Sweet Rock Farm on Gabriola Island. Sal has operated a small-scale […]

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September 8, 2021

British Columbia’s Animal Health Centre

This episode is about the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries’ Animal Health Centre. Guest interviewer Tristan Banwell interviews Dr. Glenna McGregor, a veterinary pathologist at the centre, about […]

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September 8, 2021

Parasitoid Wasps as Biological Pest Control

One major focus of the 2021 conference podcast series was what we called our research roundup. I sought participation from a few different research institutions across the country so that we […]

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September 8, 2021

Regenerative Organic Certified

It was only a few years ago that I became aware of the term regenerative agriculture, and now, it’s everywhere. We definitely wanted to include something on regenerative ag in […]

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