From Evidence to Action: Agricultural Water Risk in Western Canada
Join our webinar on water risk management in western Canadian farming, with speakers Mathieu Lipari (Farm Management Canada) & David Sauchyn (University of Regina).
Western Canadian agriculture is navigating a shifting risk landscape. As water availability becomes less predictable and climate variability intensifies, recent droughts raise urgent questions surrounding preparedness.
This webinar bridges climate science and agricultural policy to support more informed decision-making.
The evidence base
Drawing on climate and hydrology research, the session will present long-run data on water availability and climate patterns in Western Canada, helping to distinguish between short-term variability and longer-term trends. This analysis clarifies what risks are emerging and at what scale.
From evidence to policy
Building on this foundation, the discussion turns to practical questions: Are infrastructure and governance systems designed for anticipated conditions or historical precedent? Do current risk management programs address emerging risk profiles? What would proactive adaptation require in terms of policy design, investment priorities, and institutional coordination?
The session will explore priorities and considerations for improving preparedness and risk mitigation frameworks.
For policymakers, risk managers, and industry leaders responsible for shaping agricultural policy, managing risk portfolios, or planning programs in Western Canada.
Register to join the conversation.
Wed 4 March, 2026 @ 10:00 MST
This in an online event, a virtual link will be shared with registrants ahead of the webinar.
Speaker bios:
David Sauchyn, Director, Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative; Professor, University of Regina: Dr. David Sauchyn is Director of the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative and Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Regina. His research is focused on climate variability and its impacts on the natural resources of the Western Prairies.
Mathieu Lipari, Project Manager & National Risk Management Lead, Farm Management Canada: Mathieu's extensive experience includes helping producers in developing countries and working as a project manager for Farm Management Canada since 2010. Mathieu has led projects to develop risk management resources tailored for Canadian producers. Over the years, Mathieu has taught comprehensive risk management for agriculture, providing training to hundreds of producers and farm advisors across Canada, given guest lectures in Canadian universities and colleges, and published various articles and papers.
Moderator:
Roshanne Sihota, Project Coordinator, The Simpson Centre