NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region, North Slave Region, South Slave Region

Tags: food security, nutrient levels, berries, agricultural development

Objective(s): To 1) identify the best variety of strawberry to grow in various locations on the NWT, 2) develop best practices for growing strawberries, 3) engage the communities in growing more food locally, 4) communicate findings with growers in the NWT and other northern jurisdictions. In addition, to complete qualitative and quantitative assessments of strawberry and food programs as well as the outcomes and reach of the research.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5915. Goals • Identify the best variety of strawberry to grow in various locations on the NWT • Develop best practices for growing strawberries • Engage the communities in growing more food locally • Communicate findings with growers in the NWT and other northern jurisdictions Objectives • Develop agriculture data (yield, nutrient content, taste) for three varieties of strawberries • Study the effectiveness of hoop covers and biodegradable mulch on the productivity of strawberry growth • Engage the communities in growing more food locally • Communicate findings with growers in the NWT and other northern jurisdictions • Evaluate the collaborative approach to research and create a proposal for a distributed agricultural research and knowledge sharing network The research network is starting with three organizations who are working with three communities on local food projects: Gameti, (Northern Roots Consulting), Sambaa K’e (Sambaa K’e First Nation), and Fort Smith (Aurora College/Boreal Berry Patch Collective). Each site will carry out at least one trial (see Research Plan below). The project team will act independently at their respective sites, following protocols developed collaboratively. Equipment and supplies will be provided for each site, as well as some staff time compensation for participation in the research process (planting/maintenance, data collection, communications). The group will stay connected with a monthly team via video conference, and one in-person gathering in Yellowknife. Northern Roots Consulting and Kim Neider, a horticulturalist at Upernarviarsuk Experimental Farm in South Western Greenland, will provide horticulture expertise for the project Research Objective 1: What is the best variety of strawberry for a given site? Methods: Provide equal growing conditions to compare three varieties of strawberries Variables: yield (total weight, size), taste, days to first maturity Research Objective 2: Does the preferred treatment (mulch and cover) improve strawberry yield? Methods: Test a minimum of one variety of strawberry with and without treatment Variables: yield (total weight, size), days to maturity Research Objective 3: Does one treatment alone improve strawberry yield? Methods: Test a minimum of one variety of strawberry with/without mulch OR cover Variables: yield (total weight, size), days to maturity Research objective 4: Do strawberries grown under the northern sun have different nutrient and sugar content than those imported? Methods: Test sample of locally grown strawberries from each site and store bought variety for moisture, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, sugar, and potassium. The group will review results and create a lessons learned/best practices document for sharing. We will promote the project locally on community Facebook pages and engage people to come visit the research to learn about what we are doing. We will also invite community to participate in the taste testing part of our research (store bought vs. locally grown). We will share our findings at local meetings, and then across the territory (and circumpolar north) via a webinar and at the annual NWT Grow Conference. Aurora College will compile the data and lead development of a scientific paper to share the findings. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: July 17 - December 31, 2024