New Discussion Paper, Consultations Aimed at Reducing Fertilizer Use

The Canadian government has released a discussion document and announced a new round of consultations aimed at trying to find ways for farmers to cut greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer use.

The discussion document – which was borne out of meetings with producer groups and provincial governments in 2021 – is expected to stimulate discussion on how Canada can reach its fertilizer emissions reduction target. It contains a variety of potential reduction options, including replacing synthetic fertilizer with livestock manure.

The discussion document is available for comment until June 3, 2022, and can be found here:

https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/about-our-department/transparency-and-corporate-reporting/public-opinion-research-and-consultations/share-ideas-fertilizer-emissions-reduction-target

The federal government has set a national target to reduce absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with fertilizers by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.

“The government is focused on meeting this emissions reduction target through a range of policy measures and approaches, such as working with farmers to encourage broader adoption of new products and implementation of beneficial management practices, resulting in both economic benefits for farmers and environmental benefits for society,” Ottawa said in a release.

Fertilizer Canada, which represents manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers, commissioned a study in 2021 which concluded the government’s plan to cut fertilizer use to reduce on-farm emissions could cost growers nearly $48 billion over the next eight years.