The Innovation Awards—the Weston Family Ecosystem Innovation Award and the ALUS Canada Producer Innovation Award (now known as the Dave Reid Award)—were created in 2016 to recognize outstanding researchers and innovative producers of ecosystem services on Canadian farms and ranches.
The Weston Family Ecosystem Innovation Award
The Weston Family Ecosystem Innovation Award recognizes researchers and/or ALUS Canada partners for excellence and innovation in scientific research, monitoring or verification of ecosystem services on working farmlands. This award highlights achievement in valuing ecosystem services that provide benefits both on the farm and for the broader public good.
Selection Criteria:
- Recipients of the Weston Family Ecosystem Innovation Award conduct research related to ecosystem services on working farmlands, such as innovative methods of monitoring, verifying or measuring the ecosystem services produced on farmlands, and/or innovative methods of evaluating their economic value to society.
- Recipients have completed credible research related to the ecosystem services produced on working farmlands, or the verification and monitoring thereof.
- Recipients help promote public awareness of the ecosystem services to youth, landowners and the general public.
- Recipients participate in regional, provincial or national committees or organizations relating to ecosystem services.
The Dave Reid Award (formerly known as the ALUS Canada Producer Innovation Award)
The Dave Reid Award recognizes participating ALUS farmers/ranchers who are excellent stewards of the land and who have done outstanding and innovative work in producing ecological services on their farms through ALUS. This Award highlights achievements in conservation, project management, environmental awareness, networking and farm stewardship.
Selection Criteria:
- Recipients of the Dave Reid Award are participating ALUS farmers/ ranchers who have been innovative in producing ecosystem services on their land through the ALUS Canada program.
- Recipients are involved with ALUS as participating farmer/ranchers who also sit on the local ALUS program’s Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC).
- Recipients are excellent spokespeople for the ALUS program, for instance by entertaining tours of their ALUS demonstration projects, and/or participating as a farmer liaisons helping to facilitate the enrolment of new ALUS participants.
- Recipients are dedicated to, or supportive of, farming as a way of life, and demonstrate an excellent understanding of land stewardship.
- Recipients participate on local, regional, provincial or national committees or organizations as strong advocates for innovative stewardship projects that help to rebuild our natural heritage.
- Recipients work to increase stewardship awareness among youth, landowners, and the general public through efforts such as advocating, mentoring, teaching, fundraising, or through other means.
