A federal proposal in Canada to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer by 30% from 2020 to 2030 has faced criticism from farm groups, who said the measure would reduce crop yields and imperil food security.
The emission reduction targets, announced in August, are part of the Canadian government’s plan for an overall 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
According to government statistics, agriculture was responsible for approximately 10% of total emissions in Canada in 2019, with synthetic fertilizers producing 12.75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or roughly a fifth of emissions from agriculture. The government also reported that fertilizer use in Canada increased by 71% from 2005 to 2019.
“We are really committed to the fight against climate change,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Fertilizer use “is one activity we have identified that can have a significant impact on reducing emissions.”
Although described as voluntary, multiple news outlets reported that the government plans to incentivize growers by providing some C$1.5 billion in financial aid and grants to those who embrace the emissions reduction targets, which would help subsidize the purchase of greener farm equipment, facilitate the transition to greener cultivation methods, and encourage the development of best practices and new technologies. Farmers who don’t comply with the reduction targets will reportedly not have full access to those funds.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada accepted public input on the fertilizer emissions target through Aug. 31. In a statement to Green Markets, Fertilizer Canada said it supports “the federal government’s strong push to reduce Canada’s GHG emissions, but we cannot sacrifice food productivity.”
Fertilizer Canada said it has been working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on the emission reduction target to ensure fertilizer is used in an environmentally responsible way, without jeopardizing crop yields. “We were pleased to see formal recognition of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program as an innovative Canadian solution to support GHG emission reductions and enhanced food production in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s discussion paper,” the trade group said.
Grain Growers of Canada (GGC), a trade group that represents more than 65,000 grain, pulse, and oilseed farmers across Canada, also submitted comments during the public input period. In an Aug. 30 statement, GGC said it is concerned that the government “will inevitably seek to limit” fertilizer usage to achieve the emissions reduction target if progress is not moving fast enough. “We cannot stress our opposition to such a policy enough,” GGC said
Writing for the National Post, conservative commentator Jamie Sarkonak described the fertilizer emissions reduction plan as an “apparently-toothless target” that is “really just a funding package for research and technology subsidies aimed at making agriculture more efficient on fertilizer.” Sarkonak criticized the plan as “a branding tool to sound tough on climate while justifying any expense to meet an unreachable target. It might also be a Trojan horse to bring in tighter regulations without inciting any Dutch-style farmer protests.”
The Financial Post reported that the plan could cost Canada’s agricultural industry C$10.4 billion through 2030 as a result of reduced production. A survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that 72% of farmers said the plan would reduce crop yields, and 42% of those surveyed said the target would be difficult because they have already reduced their fertilizer use.