A Global Perspective
Conservation technology and sustainability take center stage
Something big is coming this summer. For the first time, the four-day World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA) will be held in North America. From June 22 to 25, 2014, conservation-minded individuals from around the world will gather in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to discuss the latest innovations in conservation technology and sustainable practices.
Show and tell. The event’s interactive format, which includes farmer success stories and panel discussions, focuses on three main themes:
- Grow more, more efficiently. "Sustainable intensification" means raising higher yields without increasing the land area while reducing the amount of inputs required per unit. Lower crop commodity prices have renewed the focus on efficient use of economic and environmental resources.
- Weatherproof crops. Climate resilient systems are built to withstand weather patterns that are constantly changing. While no crop can be completely weatherproof, changes in management and conservation practices can improve the ability of crops to withstand unfavorable growing conditions.
- Increase adoption through innovation. Transferring technology and knowledge to farmers is essential to establish sustainable practices. Sharing ideas for quick implementation of conservation agriculture is needed.
Beyond the farm level, the sixth WCCA hopes to help those individuals who frame policy to better understand how to successfully encourage the rapid adoption of conservation agriculture practices globally.
Attendees will come from around the world and include farmers, government agencies, academic institutions, private sector companies and more. Commercial sponsors will also provide
expertise in their respective fields.
Bringing the event to Winnipeg is the work of many volunteers from several conservation organizations who formed a network called the Conservation Agriculture Systems Alliance (CASA). The formation of CASA was facilitated in 2007 by the Conservation Technology Information Center.
Farm Journal Media is the exclusive media sponsor of WCCA in the U.S. For additional details and to register, visit www.wcca6.org.
