SASKATOON — Plant biotechnologist Pankaj Bhowmik, PhD, acknowledges that partnerships between agricultural researchers and Indigenous communities show how traditional knowledge and modern science can work together in addressing climate change while protecting culturally and environmentally significant food sources.
Bhowmik said that Canadian researchers shared their experiences with delegates, especially those from Australia and South Africa, at the 16th International Association of Plant Biotechnology Congress, which ended on Thursday, July 30, at TCU Place, and highlighted collaborative projects focused on climate change adaptation, environmental monitoring and the impacts of wildfires on traditional foods.
He said the work is rooted in partnerships with Indigenous communities, which bring generations of firsthand observations about changing landscapes, water systems and ecosystems that cannot be replicated through short-term scientific studies. Combining that knowledge with modern analytical tools produces a more complete understanding of environmental change.
"We are collaborating with communities on projects related to climate change adaptation, environmental monitoring and understanding the impacts of wildfire on traditional food resources such as wild rice and blueberries. We're looking at how Indigenous knowledge systems and scientific research can complement each other,” said Bhowmik.
"Indigenous communities have generations of experience observing environmental change and understanding local ecosystems," he said. "When that knowledge is braided with scientific tools and technologies, we believe it can create stronger and more sustainable solutions for environmental stewardship and climate resilience."
One project involves Indigenous communities in northern Saskatchewan studying wild rice production. Elders and harvesters have shared observations about how water levels, water chemistry, lake-bottom minerals and previous wildfires influence the quantity and quality of wild rice harvested from different lakes.
Researchers then build on those observations by collecting soil, water and plant samples for laboratory analysis. The scientific testing helps explain why some lakes consistently produce higher-quality wild rice, validating community knowledge while providing additional information that can support future harvesting decisions.
A similar partnership is studying wild blueberries, where community members showed researchers berry patches that consistently produced superior fruit, often linking those areas to wildfire history, sunlight exposure and soil conditions. Those observations guided researchers toward questions that may not have emerged through conventional research alone.
"So, then we ask and try to learn from their observations. We're collecting environmental data and combining that with what they're sharing through their traditional knowledge. Then we're bringing samples back to the lab to analyze the soil, the water and the nutritional qualities,” said Bhowmik, who added that the findings are shared directly with participating communities.
He said that the information they shared allowed harvesters to identify locations that produce not only larger yields but also higher nutritional value. The information can also help communities make informed decisions about where to focus harvesting efforts while creating greater economic opportunities from premium-quality traditional foods.
"That's how we're working together with the community. They know which lakes have the best quality wild rice or which areas produce the best blueberries. It's not only about production, but about quality, and that knowledge can help make harvesting more profitable. Working together with the community is very important."
