Innovation Anthology #18: AHFMR Scholar and Assistant Professor, Dept of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science

Ross Mitchell

Download MP3 Link

When concerned citizens in Paraguay wanted help to preserve an important piece of rainforest, they called upon scientists at the Alberta Research Council.

The result was a collaboration between the Research Council, The Canadian International Development Agency, and The Moises Bertoni Foundation in Paraguay.

The biggest threat to the reserve is deforestation due to agriculture and illegal logging. Poverty is rampant and conditions are harsh.

According ARC’s Paraguay project manager, Dr. Ross Mitchell, one of the most important tasks was bringing together the different Paraguayan groups – politicians, farmers and indigenous people – to discuss sustainable development for the region. To aid in their discussion, he employed a computer model called ALCES, a landuse planning tool developed by Alberta scientist, Dr. Brad Stelfox.

RM: Some of our most animated discussions were with the poorest people who were really interested in discussing sustainable options for the future because it effects their livelihood and their families and their communities. These diverse people now work together as a committee to oversee the sustainable use of what has become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Paraguay.

Thanks today to the Alberta Research Council.

FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY, I’M CHERYL CROUCHER.

Guest

David Wright, PhD,

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, David.Wright@afhe.ualberta.ca

Sponsor

Alberta Research Council

Established as the first provincial research organization in Canada, the Alberta Research Council is 85 years old. The Alberta Research Council (ARC) develops and commercializes technologies to give customers a competitive advantage. A leader in innovation, ARC provides solutions globally to the energy, life sciences, agriculture, environment, forestry and manufacturing sectors.
ARC performs about five per cent of the roughly $1.5 billion in R&D done in Alberta each year, and generates revenues of approximately $84 million per year. ARC operates from five sites across the province in Edmonton, Calgary, Vegreville and Devon and employs more than 600 highly-skilled people.

In January 2010, under the new Alberta Innovation Framework, the Alberta Research Council was restructured and incorporated into the new provincial agency Alberta Innovates Technology Futures.

 

Program Date: 2007-03-15