Federal Government Forming Fertilizer Working Group

Following consultations with the agriculture industry the Canadian government is forming a Fertilizer Working Group, a March 22 news release said. The working group will help increase communication and strengthen engagement between the government and agricultural sector as they work to reduce fertilizer-related emissions.

“Our government continues to support the agricultural sector’s efforts to become more and more sustainable by investing in practices that are effective in reducing emissions and regenerating soil. I want to thank everyone who participated in the consultation process,” Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, said in the release.

The working group is being formed under the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy Advisory Committee. As a co-chair of the advisory committee, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will collaborate with the group to reach its objectives, which include:

• Strengthen the ongoing dialogue between industry and government to share information, best practices and identify resources to reduce emissions from fertilizers
• Examine mechanisms that need further support, such as program funding and the adoption of beneficial management practices (BMP)
• Improve the measurement and tracking of fertilizer emissions reductions in the sector

The release noted the feedback received through the consultations will allow the federal government to ensure its programs are designed to support the adoption of beneficial management practices, implement clean technologies, as well adapt its research and innovation programs so that they are suitable for real-world application.

The decision to form the working group came from consultations with the ag sector to gather feedback on how best to support farmers and producers through voluntary fertilizer-related emission reduction measures moving forward, the release said. Over 2,000 submissions were received through online consultation, technical workshops and town hall meetings between March and October 2022. Farmers, producers, industry associations, provinces and territories, scientists and environmental organizations provided their input. AAFC analyzed the valuable feedback and has published the Fertilizer Emissions Reduction Target Consultation What We Heard Report.

“CFA is pleased to see the What We Heard Report on Fertilizer Emissions Reduction released. There is clearly a diversity of perspectives on many key issues, and we are pleased to see the report identify the importance of further producer engagement in advancing this voluntary approach,” Keith Currie, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said in the release.