Farmers who are interested in participating in the program can get more information online at collaborase.com/farming4rland. Results from the Farming 4R Land project will be utilized across Canada and Internationally.
Other partners involved in the Farming 4R Land project include Agri-INNOVATIONS. The project draws on the work of the Agriculture Canada Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program and NSERC.
This is the first project funded through the Biological GHG Management Program, administered by Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions (AIBIO) with funding from the CCEMC. Launched in May 2012, the program offers financial support for projects that will discover, develop and deploy technologies and strategies and demonstrate cost-effective ways for the agriculture, forestry and waste management sectors to help meet Alberta's climate change strategy goals. Funded projects support the CCEMC mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the AIBIO mandate to grow and develop Alberta's bio-industries through science and innovation.
Funding for CCEMC is collected from industry. Since 2007, Alberta companies that annually produce more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over a baseline are legally required to reduce their greenhouse gas intensity by 12 per cent. Companies have three options to meet their reduction target: improve the efficiency of their operations, buy carbon credits in the Alberta-based offset system or pay $15 into the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund for every tonne over the reduction limit. The CCEMC invests the money collected in clean technology.
Backgrounder
Project name: Farming 4R LandOrganization: Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI)Projectinvestment: $199,860.00Project value: $224,860.00Estimated GHGemissions 0.5 megatonnes/yr after 10 yr adoption periodreduction:
The Canadian Fertilizer Institute is an industry association representing manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers. Our mission is to be the unified voice of the Canadian fertilizer industry by promoting the responsible, sustainable and safe production, distribution and use of fertilizers. Our industry employs 12,000 Canadians and contributes $12 billion annually to Canada's economy. Our products contribute to the supply of safe, nutritious food in Canada and around the world.
The project goals are to:
1. Develop implementation strategies for farmer adoption of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship system and NERP that will generate quantifiable and verifiable GHG reductions2. Recognize and advocate for farmers within their community and watershed stakeholders3. Identify and evaluate the ecological goods and services as well as the social and economic impacts for the 4R Nutrient Stewardship system
To achieve these goals the project will:
-- Develop criteria for project participation and use criteria to select farmers;-- Build a community of practice and engagement for all stakeholders;-- Provide the tools and resources for evaluation of 4R and NERP activities at the field level;-- Measure the social, economic and environmental impact of the best management practice adoption; and,-- Promote the successes of the participating farmers for recognition and advocacy in their community, within the regional watershed, amongst their peers and within the crop supply chain.
The Nitrous Oxide Emission Reduction Protocol (NERP) is intended to reduce on-farm emissions of nitrous oxide in a quantifiable, credible and verifiable way that would allow farmers to earn carbon credits.
More information about the program is available online at: collaborase.com/farming4rland
Media contact:Cassandra CottonCommunications SpecialistCanadian Fertilizer Instituteccotton@cfi.caCell: (613) 762-8178
Contacts:
Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation
Celia Sollows
780-239-4150
celia@ccemc.ca
www.ccemc.ca
Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions
Marie Cusack
780-918-4620
Marie.Cusack@AlbertaInnovates.ca
www.bio.albertainnovates.ca
Canadian Fertilizer Institute
Cassandra Cotton
Communications Specialist
Cell: (613) 762-8178
ccotton@cfi.ca
www.cfi.ca
