The Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS) announces the launch of the second intake of the Climate and Environment Research Fund (CERF).
Previous work completed by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food (AF) showed the potential for broad groups of on-farm beneficial management practices (BMPs) to help farmers and ranchers achieve reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions. With the CERF, AF is looking to build on this work by addressing knowledge gaps with on-farm BMPs that have high potential to sequester carbon or reduce GHG emissions. LFS completed the first intake in summer of 2024 and projects selected are underway with the current 2025 production season. The original CERF research plan had called for a second intake to be announced in 2026, however the timing for the second call for proposals has been advanced (1) to better align the start period for the next CERF phase with the 2026 field season, and; (2) to allow proponents, particularly new LFS faculty appointments, adequate time to develop projects in consultation with AF, and to build teams and collaborations so that they are ready for the start of the 2026 production season.
AF is interested primarily in BMPs that fall under the following priority areas:
- Riparian, grassland, and habitat management (mitigation/carbon sequestration focus)
- Soil health including carbon sequestration
- Nutrient management
- Waste management (i.e. Organic matter, CO2, methane and other mitigation)
- Mitigation and carbon sequestration BMPs on the S-CAP national list (see Appendix)
The lead applicant must be a LFS faculty member. Co-applicants may be, but are not limited to: researchers and professors, practitioners, policy-makers, educators, decision-makers, health-care administrators, Indigenous Elders, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, community leaders, or individuals working for a charity.
Funding awarded for the second CERF intake will mirror that for the first, i.e. ~$65,000/year for two (2) years. Proposals will be reviewed in January and February of 2026 and two projects will be selected for funding with a start date of April 1, 2026.
Applications for the second intake of the LFS CERF should be sent to lfs.research@ubc.ca by 5 pm, Monday, December 15, 2025.
Questions should be directed to Simone Castellarin [simone.castellarin @ubc.ca], or Nick Grant [nick.grant@ubc.ca].
Full details on the CERF program including the Application Form can be found here.