AAFC News Release
Sept. 13, 2012

Green Agriculture Gets a Boost from the Harper Government

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Canadian farmers will have the opportunity to increase their profits while improving their environmental impact with the support of the Harper Government. The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced today an investment for the Canadian Fertilizer Institute to study greenhouse gas mitigation in fertilizer application.

"Our Government's top priority remains the economy, and investments in research play an important role in keeping our economy strong," said Minister Yelich. "This investment will help provide farmers with the tools and knowledge needed to preserve their land and surrounding environment, ensuring they remain profitable well into the future."

The Canadian Fertilizer Institute will use this $700,000 investment to study greenhouse gas mitigation in fertilizer application using the 4R Nutrient Stewardship system-Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place-a set of beneficial management practices (BMPs) created by the fertilizer industry to achieve cropping system goals. This will help farmers use fertilizer more efficiently, which will help to protect the environment, leave more money in the pockets of farmers and increase yield potential on the farm.

"There are many advantages for farmers to adopt the 4Rs into their cropping systems," said Mr. Norm Beug, Chair of the Canadian Fertilizer Institute. "The 4Rs offer a framework to farmers as they implement BMPs to optimize fertilizer efficiency, which minimizes nutrient loss and leakage into the air and water. The 4R approach maximizes farmer returns for every tonne of fertilizer used and allows farmers to quantify their practices to receive credits for ecological goods and services."

This project is supported through the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP), a five-year, $27-million initiative that focuses on the development of on-farm greenhouse gas mitigation technologies. The AGGP will provide funding to various partners across Canada to investigate innovative mechanisms, tools, and approaches that provide real solutions for the agriculture sector.

The AGGP is Canada's initial contribution to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, an international network of more than 30 member countries that coordinates and increases agricultural research on greenhouse gas mitigation and makes new mitigation technologies and beneficial management practices available to farmers. In June 2012, Canada was officially named Council Chair of the Alliance for 2012-13. For more information on the Global Research Alliance, visit www.globalresearchalliance.org.

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