This column is an opinion by farmer and researcher Tatenda Mambo. For more information about CBC’s Opinion section, please see the FAQ.

Last summer, a brutal heat dome knocked out crops across the prairies. But on our experimental farm just south of Calgary, it also gave a measure of hope.

At the University of Calgary’s Simon Farm Project near Blackie, Alta., we’re testing whether the traits found in locally-saved and traditional seed varieties can bring more resilience to our food production in the face of climate change.

It’s part of a larger research effort to help Alberta’s farmers shift their