Learn more about how a cost-share program can support better farm-level nitrogen management ▼

BMPs include:

• Quantitative determination of right rate
• Precision nitrogen management
• Enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizer
• Elimination of fall nitrogen application
• 4R management of manure
• Improved crediting of organic N sources

Direct greenhouse gas emissions from the use of nitrogen fertilizer represent approximately 14% of all emissions from Canadian agriculture, and are the fastest growing source of emissions. The government of Canada has set a target of a 30% absolute reduction in emissions from nitrogen fertilizer by 2030. Supporting the adoption of the four BMPs related to synthetic nitrogen fertilizer management recommended in this report would result in a 3.5 Mt absolute reduction in nitrogen-related emissions in 2030, 33% below current levels. Additional reductions can be achieved through better management of organic sources of nitrogen, especially manure.

While each of these BMPs has emissions reduction benefits, producers will be best supported through a systemic approach that emphasizes the importance of better farm-level nitrogen management. We recommend a cost-share program to support producers to work with an agrologist (PAg), certified crop advisor (CCA), or farmer mentor to create a nitrogen management plan that includes as many BMPs as appropriate to their operation. The emissions reduction and economic benefits of all of the recommended BMPs come primarily from the opportunity they provide to reduce the rate of N application without sacrificing yield. Any nitrogen management plan should therefore have rate reduction as a primary goal.

The goal of our research was to identify practices that can reduce emissions without sacrificing yield. This is especially true of our nitrogen fertilizer recommendations — there is a huge opportunity to reduce fertilizer use and emissions without losing yield. Some of our recommendations might cause a small decline in yield, but the savings due to lower input costs can actually increase farmer profits.

Many of our recommendations are also aimed at increasing resilience and helping farmers adapt to our changing climate. It is absolutely essential that we improve our soil health, increase the organic matter in our soil and increase the biodiversity on our farms in order to withstand the extreme weather events that are already occurring - that's the best way to protect our crop yields in the future. Our ability to continue feeding the world depends on our ability to adapt to our changing climate.

Learn more about how a subsidy program can improve manure management ▼

BMPs include:

• Synthetic impermeable floating covers
• Acidification of liquid manure

The management of manure offers extremely cost-effective opportunities for emissions reduction. These two BMPs are so effective at reducing emissions from liquid manure systems that we recommend a subsidy program to cover the cost for every producer of liquid manure to adopt one or the other during the next APF period. Such a program would result in over 2.2 Mt CO2e of avoided emissions by 2028.

Learn more about how stacking these BMPs can improve herd and soil health ▼

BMPs include:

• Increased legumes in pasture
• Rotational grazing
• Extended grazing period

Ruminant livestock – such as cattle, sheep and goats – have microbes in their guts that produce methane. The emissions that come from the mouths of ruminant livestock are known as enteric methane, and are the largest single source of emissions in Canadian agriculture, with cattle accounting for the very large majority of enteric emissions. Improving diet quality can directly reduce enteric emissions, and can also lead to faster growth, better animal health and better reproductive success, all of which lower the emissions intensity of the animal products produced. Improved grazing practices can increase soil carbon sequestration, which reduces atmospheric carbon and provides numerous soil health benefits. The emissions reduction opportunities described in this section are extremely cost-effective.

The BMPs in this section can be “stacked”, meaning that the benefits of each BMP are additive. While most BMPs related to enteric methane can reduce emissions by 5 to 10%, adopting several BMPs simultaneously can increase emissions reductions. These recommended BMPs also improve overall animal health and reproductive success, allowing producers to operate with fewer breeding replacement animals and decreasing the time to market their animals, thus reducing the overall enteric emissions of their herd.

Learn more about programs that can protect these vital ecosystems ▼

BMPs include:

• Avoided conversion of wetlands
• Wetland restoration
• Alley cropping
• Silvopasture
• Planting riparian trees
• Avoided conversion of shelterbelts

Wetlands and trees on agricultural landscapes are valuable carbon sinks and provide numerous ecological benefits. The destruction of wetlands and trees and their conversion to cropland is ongoing and results in estimated GHG emissions of over 1.2 Mt CO2e every year. Canada’s National Inventory Report, however, does not capture these emissions.

The BMPs described in this section reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration. Avoided conversion of wetlands and shelterbelts can result in very significant emissions reduction, while wetland restoration and increasing trees on agricultural lands can store large amounts of carbon.

Learn more about how per-acre payments can support soil management practices that reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and increase soil carbon sequestration ▼

BMPs include:

• Cover cropping
• Intercropping

Beneficial management practices for better soil management mitigate climate change by reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and increasing soil carbon sequestration. While FCS believes that emissions reduction should be prioritized over carbon storage, practices that draw carbon out of the atmosphere and increase soil organic matter are a vital tool to increase resilience and adapt to our changing climate, and provide numerous co-benefits to farmers.

Doing nothing on climate change costs the sector and Canadians much more than proactively addressing it ▼

Canadian agriculture experiences $2 billion in damage to farms annually as a result of severe climate impacts. This is lost revenue that should be reduced and redirected into farmer profits through programs that support climate adaptation and mitigation.

Canadian farmers risk losing market share if they are not well supported to adopt low-GHG practices ▼

Most food companies that purchase Canadian products are committed to reducing emissions in their supply chains over the next decade. Other countries already invest more on a per acre basis in agri-environmental programs, and without new support in the next APF, we risk losing our competitive edge in the clean economy of the 21st century.

Agriculture is the only Canadian sector that is not projected to reduce emissions significantly by 2030 ▼

Canadians increasingly care about the sustainability of their food, but the current picture isn’t promising: emissions in Canadian agriculture are not on a steady decline. We need the next APF to position us for success as part of Canada’s response to climate change.

Amanda Elzinga-Pugh

Livestock producer, AB ▼

Amanda Elzinga-Pugh has been involved in agriculture from a very early age. She grew up on her family’s farm and took on roles in other cattle operations before completing a B.Sc in agriculture. Following her formal education she worked as a nutrition and production consultant in the livestock feed industry and currently works for a large animal health company. She and her husband own and operate a commercial & purebred cow/calf operation in eastern Alberta.

Cameron Goff

Grain & oilseed producer, SK ▼

Cam Goff operates a grain farm south of Saskatoon in cooperation with his two brothers. They are considered conventional operators, using zero-till seeding, fertilizers and pesticides. Cam's farm is on the edge of the Allan Hills, where his primary crops are wheat, canola, barley and flax.

Claudia Wagner-Riddle

University of Guelph ▼

Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle is a Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Canada. Originally from Brazil, Claudia has degrees from the University of Sao Paulo and Guelph. Claudia leads an internationally-renowned research program utilizing the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions to determine the carbon footprint of food, feed, and fuel produced by agriculture. Claudia leads a nation-wide training program on Climate-Smart Soils and was awarded the 2020 IFA Borlaug Award of Excellence in Crop Nutrition. Wagner-Riddle has published >160 papers and has an h-index of 45 (Google Scholar).

Susantha Jayasundara

University of Guelph ▼

Susantha Jayasundara is a Research Associate at the Wagner-Riddle Lab, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph. He has extensive experience in research and analysis of the environmental impact of crop-livestock systems and mitigation options.

Kim Ominski

University of Manitoba ▼

Kim Ominski is a professor in the Department of Animal Science and the Director of the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment at the University of Manitoba. Since joining the University, Kim has established a research program improving the productivity and sustainability of beef cattle production in Western Canada. This work includes identification of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies conducted in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team comprised of researchers, commodity organizations, as well as members of both the provincial and federal governments. More recently this work has expanded to include an examination of resource sparing associated with the utilization of by-products and food waste in cattle production systems. Kim has trained more than 50 research personnel and also considers herself fortunate to teach in the both degree and diploma students at the University.

Karin Wittenberg

University of Manitoba ▼

Dr. Karin Wittenberg has a doctorate in Ruminant Nutrition from the University of Manitoba, where she recently retired as Dean, in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. An initiative led by Dr. Wittenberg resulted in the recent establishment of the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment (NCLE) at the University of Manitoba. Completed in 2007, NCLE plays a major role in training and research related to the complex economic, social and environmental issues facing animal agriculture. Wittenberg’s work as a university academic and professional agrologist reflects the continuing need to improve economic competitiveness and to address key issues facing animal agriculture. She has been recognized for her contributions by the Canadian Society of Animal Science Award for Excellence in Nutrition and Meat Science in 2004, the YMCA Woman of the Year in Science and Innovation in 2008, the Education award from Manitoba Pork Council in 2009, and a Canadian Society of Animal Science fellowship award in 2013. Wittenberg also led the concept development, fundraising and construction for the recently opened Bruce D Campbell Farm & Food Discovery Center which features interactive displays and programming to explain the role of science in making food. To date, more than 50,000 visitors have participated in activities that help them understand current food production in Canada.

DAVID BURTON

Dalhousie University ▼

Dr. Burton’s research examines the role of the soil environment in influencing the nature and extent of microbial metabolism in soil. His focus has been on processes in the cycling of nitrogen in soils and their implications for soil fertility and environmental impact. His current research programs involve an examination of the production and consumption of greenhouse gases in natural and agricultural landscapes, the development of tools for the measurement of soil nitrogen supply to plants, influence of climate on soil biological processes, and the assessment of the quality of the soil biological environment and its influence on soil health. Over the past decade his work has focused on potato production in Atlantic Canada. It is the aim of this work to better understand the factors that control soil microbial processes and to use this information to develop sustainable land management systems in a changing climate. He was awarded a Dalhousie University Research Professorship in recognition of his research accomplishments. Dr. Burton teaches courses in Introductory Soil Science, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, Soil Microbiology and Air, Climate, and Climate Change. He has been working on the development of blended learning and on-line learning approaches. In terms of service, Dr. Burton, is a Past President of the Canadian Society of Soil Science, serves as an Associate Editor of Canadian Journal of Soil Science, and is part of Fertilizer Canada’s 4R advisory panel. He has served as chair of a number of national advisory panels with respect to nutrient management and agricultural responses to climate change. He is currently a member of Équiterre’s advisory committee on Improving Climate Resilience and Climate Mitigation in Agriculture.

Brian McConkey

Viresco Solutions ▼

Prior to his joining Viresco as Chief Scientist, Brian had 35 years of diverse experience in agri-environmental research, technology application, and science policy primarily with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. His research has been wide ranging including soil and plant processes, soil health, water-agriculture inter-relationships, impacts of climate change on agriculture, quantifying carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions at field to national scales, sustainability of bioenergy, life-cycle assessment, and sustainability metrics. Dr. McConkey is the recognized expert of accounting for carbon stocks changes on agricultural lands in Canada. He led the initiative that developed the methods for quantifying the change in carbon stocks on Canada’s agricultural land used in Canada’s national greenhouse gas inventory. Given his expertise in carbon stocks on agricultural land, he was selected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to be a lead author for three different guidance documents that countries must follow to report carbon stock changes in their national inventories of greenhouse gases. Brian has contributed to the design of offset protocols for agricultural activities. Dr. McConkey has authored or co-authored 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. He is one of the 38 Canadian based researchers on the Reuters list of top 1000 climate scientists. Many private and public organizations have sought his extensive expertise for input on science-based solutions.

Pascal Badiou

Ducks Unlimited Canada ▼

Dr. Pascal Badiou is a research scientist with Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research (IWWR). In general, Pascal’s research interests focus on the ecology and biogeochemistry of freshwater wetlands. He is particularly interested in how multiple stressors such as wetland drainage, conversion of perennial landscapes, droughts, eutrophication, nonindigenous species and pesticides interact to affect the provision of wetland ecosystem services such as water quality and quantity regulation and carbon sequestration. Dr. Badiou has a B.Sc. in Environmental Science and a Ph.D. in Wetland Ecology from the University of Manitoba. He is an adjunct professor in the University of Manitoba’s department of Biological Sciences.

Aaron Delaporte

University of Guelph ▼

Aaron’s research program examines the environmental and economic tradeoffs of innovative agricultural BMP adoption using spatial bioeconomic and transportation modelling. He has examined wetland management throughout Canada and biomass-based bioenergy in Ontario and North Dakota. His current research focuses on 4R nitrogen management, precision agriculture, cover crops and genomic technologies.

Daniel Schuurman

University of Guelph ▼

Daniel Schuurman grew up on a farm outside of Tillsonburg, Ontario, before studying at the Universities of Waterloo and Guelph. He is currently a Research Assistant in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph and starting a Ph.D at the University of California, Davis. His current research examines the interaction between agricultural production and the environment, with applications to agricultural policy and applied econometric methods.

Kat Lorimer

Smart Prosperity Institute ▼

Kat is a Research Associate with the Smart Prosperity Institute. She has a BSc in biology from Queen’s University and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Ottawa. She has a deep love of plants and animals, which in her academic and professional career translated into an interest in the policy mechanisms around habitat and species conservation, and conservation on private agricultural landscapes. In her spare time, Kat enjoys walking with her dog and working in her community garden plot.