One of several regional chapters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s 10-year, $185-million Agricultural Climate Solutions — Living Labs Program, AALL conducted its first season in 2023. Its emphasis on real-world results unites farmers and scientists to study practices and technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon and benefit the economic bottom line of farmers.

Kris Nichols, principal scientist and research director of MyLand, calls microalgae “eco-engineers” that improve soil health and benefit crops. “Our perspective on algae, oftentimes, is that they’re aquatic organisms and they’re going to be where you have a lot of water,” said Nichols. “But they are very key in very dry systems to help manage water and nutrient relationships.”