LLNB’s January Highlights in Stewardship and Strategy

New Brunswick

January was a reminder of how connected New Brunswick’s agricultural community truly is and how much momentum is building around stewardship, innovation and collaboration across the province. Living Lab New Brunswick (LLNB) took part in several events in January that brought farmers, researchers, partners and community members together to share stories, explore new ideas and strengthen the networks that support sustainable agriculture.

Stewardship Event

LLNB was pleased to participate in Cultivating Connections: Stories of Farmers Protecting Nature at Hampton High School on Jan. 23. Organized by Nature New Brunswick, this event brought together farmers, community members and groups, including LLNB partner the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee, to hear firsthand how local farmers are restoring habitat, protecting soil and water and supporting biodiversity. The evening included screenings of the films Homes on the Range and Guardians of the Grasslands and offered an opportunity for farmers to access support to kick-start sustainable, nature-friendly practices on their farms.

Atelier et mise a jour annuals sur le LLNB

LLNB was in Fredericton Jan. 13 to 16 for several important events, including a day of strategic planning, the LLNB annual update and workshop and the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick’s (AANB) 20th annual general meeting.

Dr. Heather Bruce opened the first day with an overview of Dalhousie University’s 2025–2030 Faculty of Agriculture strategic plan, highlighting priorities such as community engagement, experiential learning, stronger programs and enhanced research and partnerships. As well, LLNB project manager Cedric MacLeod led a conversation on building a digital strategy for Atlantic Canada. Participants explored key pillars including tech adoption, data governance, workforce development and financial incentives, while also examining governance, collaboration and the data-management challenges.

The agenda for Jan. 14 covered a full review of LLNB’s progress, including updates on knowledge transfer, science team reporting, cost-of-production analysis and GHG data collection, along with an introduction to digital agriculture and the use of HOLOS for farm-level planning. The afternoon shifted to understanding global and local barriers to BMP adoption, followed by a workshop focused on overcoming those barriers in the Atlantic region.

On Jan. 15 and 16, LLNB joined AANB for its annual meeting. Discussions focused on sector challenges, policy updates and opportunities to strengthen the province’s agricultural competitiveness.