Question Period Note: FERTILIZER EMISSION REDUCTIONS

Q1 – Will the fertilizer emissions reduction target place restrictions on how much fertilizer can be used on farm? Q2 – How will the Department ensure improved measurement of fertilizer emissions? Q3 – What are the key steps the Department is taking to achieve the Fertilizer Emissions Reduction Target? Q4 – Has the Government considered mandatory measures if the Fertilizer Emissions Reduction Target is not reached? Q5 – How will the Fertilizer Emissions Reduction Target address absolute versus intensity based emissions?
Q6 – The recently published 2023 Departmental Results Report stated that the Government of Canada will work towards meeting a 30% reduction of fertilizer use from 2020 levels by 2030. Has the Department changed the target to focus on fertilizer use?

R1 - The Government of Canada agrees that any plan to reduce agricultural emissions should not restrict the amount of fertilizer that Canadian farmers use, nor should it limit Canada’s ability to maximize food production. The fertilizer emissions reduction target is focused on reducing emissions arising from the application of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers in Canada. We are not asking farmers to reduce fertilizer use in a way that will compromise yields.
Farmers are already showing leadership and taking steps to ensure they are applying fertilizer at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right amount. The Government of Canada is committed to collaborating with the sector to expand the use of beneficial management practices and new products to achieve additional emissions reductions while maintaining or increasing yields.
The Department is also moving forward with science through AAFC’s new Strategic Plan for Science. Priority research areas include the development of technologies, tools, and beneficial management practices to enhance nutrient use efficiency and reduce nutrient losses in the Canadian crop production systems. R2 - The Department recognizes that the science on emissions measurement is always improving. Work will continue with the sector to ensure that their contributions to Canada’s emissions reductions targets are appropriately measured and recognized.

This is a key area that the Government-Industry Fertilizer Working Group, launched in May 2023, will explore into the new year. R3 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has identified a range of beneficial management practices that can help us reach the target, without compromising yields. These practices were outlined as part of the fertilizer emissions reduction target consultation process

As described in the What We Heard Report, producers emphasized the need to recognize the actions that Canadian farmers have taken in promoting sustainability, as well as continued communication between the government and the agriculture sector and acknowledgement of regional challenges of nitrogen management practices.

The Government of Canada has programs in place to assist in the implementation of a wide range of beneficial management practices that can support efficient nutrient management. Between 2021 and 2022, more than $1.5 billion in initiatives were announced to support the sector in developing and adopting emissions reducing practices and technologies. In addition, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Agriculture recently announced the agreement on the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This new five-year agreement will inject $3.5 billion in funds over 2023- 2028, to support the sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation of the agricultural and agri-food sector, so that it can continue to feed Canadians and the world.

The Department continues to complement the long-standing efforts by provinces and territories to support producers adopt beneficial management practices by through the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which took effect on April 1, 2023.

Through the new Strategic Plan for Science, we will work to develop technologies, tools, and beneficial management practices to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and reduce nutrient losses in Canadian crop production systems.

Furthermore, through the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy and the Government-Industry Fertilizer Working Group, we will also continue to collaborate with the sector to explore opportunities for additional reductions, address gaps in data and measurement, and develop regionally specific metrics to enhance product application efficiency.

The Department is aware that reaching the fertilizer emissions target will require widespread adoption of these practices through continued collaboration between government, industry and producers. This is why the Department remains focused on a voluntary approach that can work for producers and ensure Canada can continue to feed the world in a changing climate. R4 - Mandatory restrictions or regulations are not being considered as a way to reduce emissions from the application of synthetic fertilizers. Progress in reducing emissions will be supported through the use of voluntary measures and will build upon the significant efforts already underway in the sector.

This approach recognizes the regional and production differences across the country. The Department has been clear from the outset that this is not a mandatory reduction in fertilizer use. This was also published as part of our consultation process.

The Department will continue to collaborate with the sector to expand the use of new beneficial management practices and new products to achieve additional emissions reductions while maintaining or increasing yields. R5 - The fertilizer emissions target was developed based on existing approaches that, when adopted at scale, could help significantly reduce nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer use without compromising productivity. A target is established relative to absolute emissions rather than emissions intensity, ensures a concrete reduction in overall emissions, and will contribute to Canada’s overall emissions reduction commitments.
Any efforts to achieve emissions reductions will use voluntary measures implemented in partnership with farmers, industry, and stakeholders. R6 - The Government of Canada wants to be clear that it is not imposing a 30% reduction in fertilizer use. This is in fact an error, which will be corrected in our Departmental Results Report. We would like to apologize for any confusion this may of caused.
There is no mandatory reduction in fertilizer use on Canadian farms. Canada’s fertilizer emissions reduction target does not represent a ban or a mandatory reduction on fertilizer use. Any plan to reduce agricultural emissions will not impose restrictions on the amount of fertilizer that Canadian farmers use, nor will it limit Canada’s ability to maximize food production. Instead, we want to support measures that producers can take voluntarily to reduce their emissions, while maintaining or growing crop yields. Nitrogen fertilizer plays an important role in Canadian agriculture. Efforts to achieve emissions reductions will focus on improving nitrogen management and optimizing fertilizer use – not a mandatory reduction in the use of fertilizers. The goal is to enhance farmers' yields, while reducing emissions.

The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening the economy and reducing emissions, to support the livelihoods of farmers, and increase global competitiveness. Fertilizers are an essential input for farmers. We need to ensure that our efforts to reduce emissions do not undermine their competitiveness or their vital work, especially at a time when costs are rising, and food insecurity has reached unprecedented levels worldwide.
 

The Government of Canada recognizes that the contribution of Canadian farmers to domestic and global food security has never been more important, which is why we are committed to ensuring their efforts to support sustainable food production are maintained for years to come. The Government also understands that fertilizers are an essential input for Canada’s agricultural crops and significant progress has been made by Canadian farmers in improving the efficient use of fertilizer through continued innovation and a commitment to the stewardship of their lands. Canada’s fertilizer emissions target intends to build on the innovation, expertise, dedication, and ingenuity of Canadian farmers to reduce emissions while maintaining and improving the quality and yields Canadian agriculture is known for around the world.
In December 2020, the Government of Canada set a target of reducing emissions associated with fertilizer application to 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030. Canada’s fertilizer emissions reduction target does not represent a ban nor a mandatory reduction in fertilizer use. Reducing emissions while maintaining or enhancing yields is our goal.
The fertilizer emissions target was developed based on existing approaches available that, when adopted at scale, could help to significantly reduce nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer use without compromising productivity. As growing conditions vary across the country, beneficial management practices that improve nutrient use efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient losses must be locally selected to account for unique regional circumstances. This is why the Government is focused on voluntary efforts to improve nitrogen management and optimization of fertilizer use, which will not only help to reduce emissions but can also result in long-term improvements in soil health and water quality.
The Government of Canada has been engaging with farmers, representatives from agriculture commodity and producer associations, provinces and territories, and members of the public to develop a collaborative approach to reduce emissions nation-wide. On March 22, 2023 the Government of Canada released the Fertilizer Emissions Reduction Target “What We Heard Report”, which summarizes input received throughout the engagement process and includes the announcement of an Industry-Government Working Group to strengthen ongoing dialogue on the target. This Working Group was launched in May 2023 and will run for a 1-year period, with a possibility of extension. Key meetings will be held focused on data and measurement, beneficial management practices, innovation, extension and communication.
The Government of Canada has programs in place for producers to assist in the implementation of a wide range of beneficial management practices that can support efficient nutrient management. Over 2021 and 2022, over $1.5 billion in initiatives for the agriculture sector have been announced, including support for the Agricultural Clean Technology Program, which focuses on the development and adoption of transformative clean technologies, and the Agricultural Climate Solutions Program On-Farm Climate Action Fund which aims to broaden support for climate mitigation practices, including nutrient management.
In addition, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Agriculture recently announced agreement on a new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This new five-year agreement will inject $3.5 billion in funds over 2023-28, to support the sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation of the agricultural and agri-food sector, so that it can continue to feed Canadians and the world.
In 2022, AAFC released a Strategic Plan for Science, which takes into consideration the environmental, social, and economic context in which all of our scientific activities are conducted. The plan emphasizes mission-driven science to promote a variety of scientific approaches, including higher-risk transformative science. Mission-driven science will bring together multiple disciplines from across the Department and other science organizations working towards similar goals, goals which will lead to a competitive net-zero or low emission agriculture production system. One of the priority research areas is to increase our knowledge of nutrient cycling and to develop technology, tools and beneficial management practices to enhance nutrient use efficiency and reduce nutrient losses, leading to a profitable and resilient Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
The Government of Canada is also developing the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy which was highlighted in the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan and the Strengthened Climate Plan as a means to support the agriculture sector’s actions on climate change and other environmental priorities towards 2030 and 2050.

• It is a top priority for the Government of Canada to take action on climate change, and build a cleaner, greener future. In December 2020, the Government of Canada set a fertilizer emissions reduction target of 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030.
• This target does not represent a ban nor a mandatory reduction in fertilizer use. The fertilizer target will build upon the sector’s work to date and reduce fertilizer-related emissions while maintaining the sector’s competitiveness and maximizing food production.
• We are also providing significant new funding to support the sector’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions, including over $1.5 billion in new and expanded funding announced through Budget 2021 and 2022.

• We are committed to a collaborative approach and ongoing dialogue with industry, provinces, and territories to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the agriculture sector and the health of our water, air and soil for generations to come.