Government of Canada invests $27 million to extend the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program for another five years
Minister Lawrence MacAulay was on campus to participate in the Symposium and Wrap-Up meeting for the “Effects of Agricultural Water Management Systems on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Eastern Canada” project led by Chandra Madramootoo (Bioresource Engineering). The project was funded by the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases program.
Announcement by The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food Macdonald Campus of McGill University, March 30, 2016
"There is no doubt that science is a most valuable tool for fighting climate change and for staying on the cutting edge of industry. The initiatives you are discussing here today will be of great benefit to Canada’s farmers and Canada’s environment. Canadian farmers have always been strong stewards of the environment – they safeguard air, water and soil resources. They continue to make great strides in reducing agricultural environmental footprint through higher producing crops, effective use of inputs like fertilizer and technologies that use water efficiently. They use practices like zero tillage that keep carbon in the soil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They apply nitrogen fertilizer in a more efficient manner as a safeguard to the environment and of course, improvement to the bottom line of the farmer.
A recent study at Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, also showed that Canadian beef producers have reduced greenhouse emissions by 15% over the past three years. At the same time, they increased their production by over 30% through genetics and management strategies such as feeding. We can develop strategies that will grow the agricultural sector while cracking climate change. Clearly Canadian farmers are up to the challenge of feeding the world sustainably.
As you know our government has a strong agenda for innovation. In the budget last week we committed to investing in research, innovation and science infrastructure that will help Canada’s agriculture and food sector continue to create jobs and growth for all Canadians.
Over the coming years, the budget commits to developing an approach for additional investments in agriculture, science and research. We know that strong action on climate change is needed. Never before has the role of stewardship has been as important as it is now.
Climate change is more than extreme weather events. It is about whether land resources, energy demands and food security. I have a clear mandate from the Prime Minister to help the agricultural sector adapt to climate change and better address water and soil conservation. Only with sustainable agriculture can we safeguard our natural resources, our food supply and the tremendous economic benefits of agriculture in Canada.
I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is extending the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program for another five years. We are investing another $27 million in the program to support additional research starting in April of this year. The results of the new projects will help Canadian farmers lead the way in sustainable agriculture. The renewed program will focus on helping farmers reduce greenhouse gases in four key areas: managing and feeding strategies, capturing carbon through land and tillage systems, agro-forestry and crops grown with irrigation and drainage. Results of this research will give farmers new tools to reduce their emissions and boost their bottom lines. I am very pleased that this valuable program will be up and running for another five years.
I am also pleased that these funds will help Canada’s continued support for the objective of global research alliance on agricultural and greenhouse gases. Together 46 member countries collaborate on research, technologies and beneficial management practices that help farmers grow more food without increasing GHG emissions. The common goal is to build a more profitable, sustainable and green future for Canada’s agricultural sector.
Over the coming decades farmers will be called upon to feed a growing global population on the same amount of land. Science will be the greatest ally in meeting that challenge. That is why the work you do at the College is so vital to the future. Soon we will begin to build a new framework for agriculture that will help the sector capture new opportunities in the global marketplace.
We want to hear your thoughts on the current framework, Growing Forward II and how we can build on an even better framework for the future. We are starting to put Growing Forward III together and we need input from all the people in this room and people across the country on what we need to do better in the future.
WATCH VIDEO