| | From AESA Council’s Chair
by John Kolk
Poultry Industry Council
It’s easy to feel pessimistic when you look at the predicted consequences of climate change. For the Prairie Provinces, the expected changes include reduced water supplies, more drought, more forest fires, and more severe storms. And even if every person on the planet significantly reduces greenhouse emissions starting today, the impacts of our emissions up until today will still be felt for a century or more.
But for anyone who cares about the land and the coming generations, it’s vital to put aside the pessimism and find practical, cost-effective options to address this issue. As it turns out, there are many such options in agriculture.
In Canada, agriculture generates an estimated 9% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, but actions by producers could reduce the country’s total emissions by 20% or more. Economically sound practices like direct seeding, efficient fertilizer application, and balanced feed rations reduce net emissions of three major greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane —and also protect water quality, enhance soil quality and conserve wildlife habitat. As well, there are potential economic opportunities for agriculture in converting products like grain and manure into bio-energy to replace fossil fuels.
Developing farm-friendly knowledge on these practices is essential. AESA is one of many agencies contributing to this. For example, through our Farm Based program, we have supported many local projects on practices that reduce emissions. We’ve also provided funding for greenhouse gas information bulletins, a workbook and booklets, held provincial forums, and contributed to research and research planning. All these efforts stress that good economics and good environmental stewardship are both essential for agriculture to thrive in the long-term.
Several articles in this issue of Green Matters look at other programs focusing on practical options for agriculture. These include the national Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program, conducting producer-led extension activities, and the Model Farm Program that is developing a web-based calculator with an economics component to estimate emissions for individual farms.
Another article provides an overview of policy aspects of greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2002, Canada ratified its commitment under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol agreement. That commitment is to reduce the nation’s emissions to 6% below 1990 levels by 2012. As well, the Alberta Government has developed its own strategy and timelines for reducing emissions.
Agricultural emissions are not regulated under this current round of Kyoto, and federal regulations governing aspects like carbon credit trading are still being developed. However, it appears that we will have to address the issue over the next decade—whether it’s to take advantage of the potential economic opportunities that may be available for agriculture, or to prepare for “child of Kyoto” type regulation.
As we in agriculture try to deal with our sometimes overwhelming day-to-day economic concerns, tackling greenhouse gas emissions may seem like a low priority. But I believe the path to sustainability involves finding individual options that weave together all the threads of our lives —economics, water, soil, air, biodiversity, and community. And I find hope in the fact that many of the options that reduce net emissions from agriculture do in fact weave those threads together. |
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