final

Question 1

What is Judson Christopherson’s academic background, and what research is he currently involved in as a second-year M.Sc. student?

Answer 1

Judson Christopherson completed an Agribusiness degree at Usask. As a second-year M.Sc. student, he is quantifying net emissions from forage production in Saskatchewan under Dr. Smyth’s supervision.

Question 2

How does the decline in public sector R&D funding and increased private sector investment impact agricultural innovation, specifically varietal development?

Answer 2

Most varietal development occurs in the public sector, and the decline in public sector R&D funding (from 57% in 1960 to 47% in 2011) raises concerns about the pace of agricultural innovation.

Question 3

What are the implications of the triple challenge of sustainable development, and how can livelihoods, equality, and climate metrics be quantified in agriculture?

Answer 3

The triple challenge involves agricultural intensification, reduced environmental impact, and maintaining economic wellbeing. New expectations include accounting for livelihoods, equality, and climate metrics, posing challenges in quantification.

Question 4

Define sustainability and resiliency in the context of agriculture, and explain the challenges in determining causal relationships in a dynamic agricultural system.

Answer 4

Sustainability involves balancing economic, environmental, and social aspects. Resiliency is the ability to recover from disturbances. Challenges in determining causal relationships make quantifying in a dynamic agricultural system difficult.

Question 5

Summarize the main concerns raised in the media about livestock production, including animal welfare, climate change, and species extinction.

Answer 5

Concerns include animal welfare, climate change implications, and the potential extinction of species due to factory farming. Global meat production contributes to 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 6

How does the demand for meat contribute to the environmental challenges associated with livestock production?

Answer 6

Increasing global demand for meat, especially beef and lamb, drives deforestation and requires more farmland, contributing to environmental challenges.

Question 7

Identify the two main factors driving the environmental problem associated with global meat production.

Answer 7

Rising wealth in developing countries leads to increased meat consumption, and meat production, especially beef and lamb, requires extensive land use.

Question 8

Explain the potential impacts of increasing meat consumption in developing countries on biodiversity.

Answer 8

Increased meat consumption in developing countries poses threats to biodiversity, as it necessitates more land for the industry, leading to potential species extinction.

Question 9

Why is biological diversity considered crucial for environmental sustainability, and how does it relate to the triple challenge in agriculture?

Answer 9

Biological diversity is crucial for environmental sustainability and relates to the triple challenge. Challenges in building a benchmark arise due to subjective views on invasive species.

Question 10

What are the challenges in building a starting benchmark for biodiversity, considering the subjective nature of research on invasive species?

Answer 10

Biological diversity is crucial for environmental sustainability and relates to the triple challenge. Challenges in building a benchmark arise due to subjective views on invasive species.

Question 11

Describe Canada’s commitment to biodiversity as outlined in the COP 15 Conference in 2022.

Answer 11

From COP 15, Canada commits to the Global Biodiversity Framework, addressing invasive species, pollution risks, and negative impacts on biodiversity.

Question 12

How can agriculture research align with the 2030 targets for action to reduce pollution risks and negative impacts on biodiversity?

Answer 12

Agriculture research aligns with 2030 targets by focusing on reducing pollution risks from excess nutrients, pesticides, and plastic pollution.

Question 13

Summarize the key points of Target 7 in the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework and its relevance to agri-food research.

Answer 13

Target 7 aims to reduce pollution risks, emphasizing nutrient cycling, pesticide reduction, and eliminating plastic pollution.

Question 14

How do extensive feeding systems contribute to reducing emissions and plastic waste in agriculture?

Answer 14

Swath-grazing, bale grazing, and stockpiling contribute to reducing emissions and plastic waste in agriculture.

Question 15

Explain the potential benefits and challenges of reducing pollution risks from excess nutrients, pesticides, and plastic pollution in agriculture.

Answer 15

Reducing excess nutrients, pesticides, and plastic pollution has benefits but poses challenges in implementation and trade-offs.

Question 16

Discuss the role of grazing practices in improving habitats for rangeland birds and limiting the encroachment of invasive species.

Answer 16

Grazing practices improve habitats for rangeland birds, limit invasive species, and enhance carbon sequestration.

Question 17

How does livestock manure contribute to improved nutrient cycling above and below the soil surface?

Answer 17

Livestock manure contributes to improved nutrient cycling above and below the soil surface.

Question 18

Explain the interrelations between aboveground biodiversity and belowground biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems.

Answer 18

Aboveground biodiversity affects belowground biodiversity, improving nutrient cycling and ecosystem health.

Question 19

What are the benefits of seeded forage blends in promoting biodiversity in agricultural systems?

Answer 19

Seeded forage blends offer improved yields, lower nutrient requirements, and provide pollinator habitat.

Question 20

Provide an overview of the outlined topics related to biodiversity in the livestock sector.

Answer 20

Outlined topics cover livestock biodiversity, native grasslands, grazing importance, and nutrient cycles.

Question 21

How do native grasslands contribute to biological diversity, and what challenges are associated with their decline in Saskatchewan?

Answer 21

Native grasslands contribute to biological diversity, supporting various species, including those at risk.

Question 22

Discuss the importance of grazing in maintaining biodiversity in rangelands and preventing habitat loss for grassland birds.

Answer 22

Grazing is crucial for maintaining biodiversity in rangelands, preventing habitat loss for grassland birds.

Question 23

How does grain and oilseed production positively impact belowground biodiversity?

Answer 23

Grain and oilseed production positively impact belowground biodiversity by relying on belowground biota.

Question 24

Explain the importance of continuous cropping and crop rotations in supporting belowground biota.

Answer 24

Continuous cropping and crop rotations support belowground biota, enhancing soil health and biological diversity.

Question 25

What is the significance of conservation tillage practices in enhancing belowground biodiversity in Saskatchewan?

Answer 25

Conservation tillage practices in Saskatchewan, with no-till adoption, enhance microbial biomass and soil health.

Question 27

How does proper management in livestock and crop production impact biodiversity and profitability?

Answer 27

Proper management improves biodiversity and profitability in livestock and crop production.

Question 28

Discuss the challenges and benefits associated with restoring unproductive pastures and hayfields for biodiversity.

Answer 28

Answer: Restoring unproductive pastures has short-term challenges but neglects the value of ecosystem services.

Question 28

What is the role of social license in making changes in agricultural practices, and why is it important for maintaining productivity on marginal land?

Answer 28

Answer: Social license is crucial for making changes, and maintaining productivity on marginal land is vital for consumer approval.

Question 29

Summarize the key management implications for improving biodiversity in livestock and crop production.

Answer 29

Answer: Balancing bottom-line and biodiversity, evaluating often, and considering long-term benefits are key management implications.

Question 30

Evaluate the balance between bottom-line considerations and biodiversity in agricultural practices.

Answer 30

Answer: Striking a balance between bottom-line considerations and biodiversity is crucial in agricultural practices.

Question 31

How can research, funding, and management be better aligned to achieve biodiversity goals in agriculture?

Answer 31

Answer: Better alignment of research, funding, and management is necessary to achieve biodiversity goals in agriculture.

Question 32

What are the main conclusions and takeaways from the presentation on Saskatchewan agriculture and biodiversity?

Answer 32

Answer: Saskatchewan agriculture can both benefit and harm biodiversity. Producers’ changes, aligned funding, and management can uphold the industry.

Question 33

who presented on relation between economics and policy

Answer 33

Peter WB Phillips is the Director of the Centre for the Study of Science and Innovation Policy at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan.

Question 34

What are the challenges in using economics during agenda setting, design, decision-making, and evaluation?
How do unknown causal pathways impact the use of economics in policy?

Answer 34

Challenges include unknown causal pathways, decisions made in contradiction to economic evidence, untested rationality, and unclear policy and program goals leading to flawed logic in attributing policy intent.

Question 35

According to Easton, what does rational decision-making involve?
List and explain the steps involved in the decision-making process according to Simon.

Answer 35

Rational decision-making involves constructing means-ends chains, listing alternative strategies, determining consequences, evaluating consequences, and considering preferences.

Question 36

What are the stages of the policy cycle according to Howlett, Ramesh, and Pearl?
How does the agenda setting process differ in views regarding the existence of problems?

Answer 36

Stages are agenda setting, policy formulation, decision making, policy implementation, and policy evaluation. Views on agenda setting include problems having objective existence or being socially constructed.

Question 37

Identify a Canadian agricultural policy.
What is the key causal story driving the identified policy?
Has the causal story changed over time, and if so, why?

Answer 37

Identify a Canadian agricultural policy (e.g., supply management).
The key causal story may involve balancing domestic production and market demand. It may change over time due to shifts in global markets or policy goals.

Question 38

Define and provide examples for distributive, redistributive, regulatory, allocative, developmental, and morality policies.
How can policies be a blend of different types, and why does this complicate evaluation?

Answer 38

Distributive policies benefit everyone equally; redistributive shifts benefits to the disadvantaged; regulatory provides guidelines; allocative distributes local services; developmental aims for growth; morality sets guidelines for moral behavior.

Question 39

Explain the nodalities (information), authority, treasury, and organization as common design tools.
How does policy implementation necessitate a causal model?

Answer 39

NATO stands for Nodalities, Authority, Treasury, and Organization. Policy implementation requires a causal model linking alternative strategies to policy objectives.

Question 40

Summarize Lindblom’s “The Science of Muddling Through.”
How do Kahneman and Tversky challenge the belief in rational decision-making?

Answer 40

Lindblom’s approach suggests that decision-making is muddled and not entirely rational. Kahneman and Tversky challenge the rational decision-making model with concepts like System 1 and System 2 thinking, frames, and heuristics.

Question 41

List and explain various evaluation tools mentioned in the presentation.
Why are counterfactuals and randomized selection important in stronger evaluations?

Answer 41

Evaluation tools include ex ante and ex post cost-benefit analyses, impact assessments, socio-economic assessments, financial and value-for-money audits, natural experiments, and counterfactuals.

Question 42

Describe the components of a policy logic model.
How does it contribute to the understanding of the policy process

Answer 42

The policy logic model includes components like inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. It contributes to understanding how policies are expected to work and what outcomes are intended.

Question 43

What are the key points under Big Theme 1: Economics in policy—substance?
How is economics embedded throughout the policy process?

Answer 43

Economics in policy provides models, methods, and metrics for decision-making, frames the policy agenda, defines feasible policy options, offers evidence and causal stories, and is embedded in implementation and impact evaluation.

Question 44

What are the key periods in the evolution of policies for the economy?
How has the focus shifted in different periods, especially in the context of innovation and economic development?

Answer 44

Policy for the economy has evolved over periods with shifts in focus, from Keynesian policies to supply-side policies, and includes elements like research and development support, clusters, and local-city-regional innovation systems.

Question 45

Define the core ideas represented by Neo-Classical Theory, Clusters, Innovation Systems, and Economics of Creativity.
According to the conclusion, what role does economics play in the policy system, and why might there be challenges in implementing economic policies for the economy?