Executive Summary
The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) sets out the Government of Canada's sustainable development priorities, establishes goals and targets, and identifies actions to achieve them. The 2019-2022 FSDS outlines what the Government of Canada will do to promote clean growth, ensure healthy ecosystems, and build safe, secure, and sustainable communities over the next three years. Departments and agencies across government contribute to implementing the strategy and achieving results. The Federal Sustainable Development Act requires federal organizations to prepare their own strategies that comply with, and contribute to, the FSDS, within one year of the FSDS being tabled in Parliament.
This Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) describes Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's objectives and plans for sustainable development appropriate to its mandate. It articulates the Department's contributions to the goals and targets of the FSDS, as well as the application of strategic environmental assessments. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will contribute directly through its DSDS to three of the thirteen goals of Canada's 2019-2022 FSDS: Effective Action on Climate Change; Greening Government; and Sustainable Food.
Section 1: Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the purpose of this Act to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a FSDS that will make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).
Section 2: Sustainable Development Vision and Context in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The overall vision of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is to drive innovation and ingenuity to build a world-leading agricultural and food economy for the benefit of all Canadians. The Department provides leadership in the growth and development of a competitive, innovative, and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector from the farmer to the consumer, and from the farm to global markets.
Agriculture is a shared jurisdiction in Canada and the Department works closely with provincial and territorial governments in the development and delivery of policies and programs, as well as with portfolio organizations, other government departments, and industry stakeholders. Departmental actions affect the entire value chain for farm, food, and bio-based products, through all phases of producing, processing, and marketing. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's collaborative efforts help create the conditions for the long-term profitability, adaptability, and sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector.
Part of this work is undertaken through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Launched in 2018, the Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion federal, provincial, and territorial policy framework that guides investments to strengthen the sector. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada delivers $1 billion in federal programs under the Partnership, and supports the delivery of cost-shared programs, which are designed and delivered by provincial and territorial governments to address the needs of their jurisdictions. Within the $2 billion of cost-shared programs and activities, an estimated allocation of up to $436 million has been made available to address environmental sustainability and climate change issues. The Partnership targets key priorities for the growth of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector, including innovation, competitiveness, trade, and environmental sustainability. Through the Guelph Statement, Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers agreed that “advancing sustainable agriculture and agri-food” would be a top focus area of the next agricultural policy framework by prioritizing tackling climate change and environmental protection in the sector.
This DSDS presents Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's commitments in support of achieving targets under the government-wide sustainable development goals of the FSDS. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food holds accountability for three of those federal goals:
The Department contributes to Effective Action on Climate Change as part of a whole-of-government approach to implementation. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food shares responsibility with all other Ministers for the Greening Government goal, and is specifically responsible for two targets under the Sustainable Food goal.
The following sections explain linkages between the Department's work and the overarching federal direction under these goals, including by highlighting key initiatives. More detailed information on Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's contributions to these goals is provided in Section 3 of the Strategy.
FSDS Goal: Effective Action on Climate Change
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Tackling climate change is critical for the environment and the economy. Canadian farmers have always been responsible stewards of the land, and can be important contributors to climate change solutions. Through improved management practices, the agriculture sector has the potential to support Canada's greenhouse gas reduction commitments.
On December 9, 2016, Canada's First Ministers adopted the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which identifies collaborative federal, provincial, and territorial actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable sustainable economic growth. Actions related to agriculture under the Pan-Canadian Framework include increasing stored carbon, generating bioenergy and bioproducts, and advancing innovation. Specific actions under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership focus on building sector capacity to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment, and adapt to climate change by enhancing sustainable growth while increasing production. Canada's Strengthened Climate Plan, announced on December 11, 2020, and measures announced in Budget 2021, build on continuing this work and will do more to cut carbon pollution in order to contribute to Canada’s 2030 Paris Agreement emissions reduction target, get to net-zero by 2050, enable Canada to be an active and constructive player in the global fight against climate change. Canada’s climate obligations have increased in ambition since the Strengthened Climate Plan was announced in late 2020. In April 2021, in line with its obligations under the Paris Agreement, the Government of Canada announced a new GHG emissions reduction target of 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030. This target, along with other developments such as the passage of the Canadian Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act, enshrines in legislation Canada’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions across the Canadian economy by 2050, and highlights the need to reduce absolute GHG emissions across all economic sectors, including agriculture. Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan includes a number of agriculture related initiatives that look to reduce GHG emissions in the sector, including investments related to clean technology, natural climate solutions, and a commitment to work with stakeholders to reduce emissions associated with fertilizer application. The Government of Canada has also confirmed its support for the Global Methane Pledge, an international joint agreement to reduce global methane emissions across sectors by at least 30 percent below 2020.
The Government of Canada’s Natural Climate Solutions Fund, announced in 2020, will advance actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and realize other environmental benefits, including through the Agricultural Climate Solutions Living Labs Program and On-Farm Climate Action Fund, both launched by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2021. These initiatives will support farmers in developing and implementing practices to address climate change and improve resiliency.
On June 16, 2021, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada launched the Agricultural Clean Technology Program to provide farmers and agri-businesses with access to funding to help develop and adopt the latest clean technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance their competitiveness. The Program focuses on three priority areas: green energy and energy efficiency; precision agriculture; and the bioeconomy.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is committed to funding and conducting targeted research to increase knowledge of climate change relative to agriculture. Prioritizing research on climate change may accelerate the agriculture sector's ability to reduce the most significant greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane and nitrous oxide, primarily from cattle and fertilizer use. Building Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's science discovery capacity will also allow the Department to respond to agri-environmental challenges related to climate change adaptation. In addition, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada conducts targeted research to increase knowledge of agriculture's impact on water resources and enhance knowledge of nutrient management, to increase efficiency and lower the potential of water resource contamination.
Currently, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada undertakes innovative research and development activities that contribute to the sustainable growth of the sector with climate change considerations in mind. These activities include supporting increasing resource and input use efficiency (for example, land, water, and nutrients), and developing beneficial management practices and precision agriculture technologies (variable rate irrigation and robotic feeding systems, for example). Department-led innovation and programming also play a significant role in enhancing the agriculture and agri-food sector's resilience to changing climatic conditions, such as increased risks from pests, drought, and flooding. This work also helps the sector to address issues related to water and soil conservation and development.
FSDS Goal: Greening Government
The federal government is committed to becoming a leader on climate change, and is taking action to ensure that it is doing its part while contributing to the broader economy-wide plan. The federal government is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings and fleets by 40% by 2025 and by 90% below 2005 levels by 2050. The federal government is also taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of waste in its buildings by diverting at least 75% of non-hazardous operational waste by weight from landfills by 2030.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is a large federal custodian representing almost 5% of scoped-in federal government greenhouse gas emissions. The Department's custodial portfolio is comprised of 1,501 buildings and 105,387 hectares of land (as of March 2019), including 20 key research centres with features such as laboratories, office areas, greenhouses, on-site test plots, barns, various outbuildings, and crop storage. Given the breadth of its facilities, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is well-positioned to continue making contributions to the Greening Government goal. The Department reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities and fleet by 37% as of 2018-19, relative to 2005-06, and it will continue to make efforts predominantly through improvements to the energy efficiency of its buildings, the modernization of its fleet, and the procurement of clean electricity. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will also take action to understand climate change impacts that could potentially affect departmental custodial assets and operations, as well as other greening operations initiatives, such as waste diversion.
FSDS Goal: Sustainable Food
Collective action by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and its partners contributes to an innovative agri-food and agriculture sector. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada promotes innovation and sustainable practices by assessing and reporting on the performance of the agriculture sector; conducting targeted research related to the impact of agriculture on climate change, soils, biodiversity and water; providing cost-shared funding to provinces and territories to support on-farm assessments of environmental risks and the adoption of effective mitigation measures; and leading initiatives under A Food Policy for Canada.
Introduced in Budget 2019, as a roadmap for a healthier, more inclusive, and more sustainable food system for Canada, the Food Policy was developed to help guide public, private, and non-profit sectors on food-related decisions and actions. It is a whole of government approach to improve collaboration among these sectors, and to help Canadians understand the impacts and the opportunities for change within the food system. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada-led initiatives include:
- The Local Food Infrastructure Fund, provides investments in infrastructure for local food projects such as those at food banks and community gardens across Canada. This will provide at-risk populations with improved access to healthy foods.
- The Food Waste Reduction Challenge, which will accelerate the implementation of concrete actions to reduce food waste in Canada along the value chain. New collaborations among non-traditional partners will be developed which will build the capacity for problem-solving and facilitate the development of new innovations.
- Federal Leadership in Food Waste Reduction, which will capitalize on opportunities and enable a contribution to the challenge of reducing food waste in federal facilities. Activities under the Federal Leadership in Food Waste Reduction initiative will foster engagement and collaboration around food loss and waste, reduce food waste in federal activities, and facilitate the measurement and reporting on food loss and waste in federal facilities.
With over half of the value of Canadian agricultural production exported, the growth of the sector relies on its ability to sell products abroad. Increasing global demand for agricultural products offers opportunity for export growth for the Canadian agriculture, agri-food and seafood sector; however, trade opportunities are also significantly impacted by domestic interests of key trading partners, such as the environment and sustainable food production. Along with broader government objectives to increase and diversify Canadian exports, the Department will also explore partnerships and collaborative opportunities to advance Canada's environmental and sustainability targets. Advocacy efforts with trading partners, particularly the United States and the European Union, will aim to demonstrate Canada's commitment to global efforts, and promote policies and approaches that are based on science and not trade-limiting or disruptive.
In addition, new Sector Engagement Tables will facilitate strategic industry-government collaboration on key priorities and issues facing the sector, such as the environment, including through a table on Sustainability.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's contributions to the Sustainable Food goal also include specific initiatives. For instance, the Living Laboratories Initiative is an example of how the Department is approaching the challenges associated with sustainable development. This new collaborative approach to agricultural innovation brings farmers, scientists, and other partners together to co-develop, test, and monitor new practices and technologies in a real life context. The ultimate benefit will be more practical technologies and sustainable farming practices adopted more quickly by Canadian farmers. A nationwide network of Living Laboratory sites is being developed to create innovative solutions to help the sector: address climate change; reduce water contamination, improve soil and water conservation, and maximize habitat capacity and biodiversity on agricultural landscapes.
In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, departmental initiatives related to the Sustainable Food goal were used to address other emerging challenges or priorities. The Government of Canada actively supported producers, processors, and agri-food business in response to the pandemic, to ensure that Canadians continued to have access to high-quality and affordable food. For example, to help improve access to food for Canadians experiencing food insecurity due to COVID-19, the Government of Canada made $300 million available to food banks and other national food rescue organizations through the Emergency Food Security Fund, administered under the Food Policy’s Local Food Infrastructure Fund ( in addition to $30 million that was transferred to Indigenous Services Canada for their own Indigenous Community Support Fund).
Section 3: Commitments for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Effective Action on Climate Change: A low-carbon economy contributes to limiting global average temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius and supports efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius
Responsible Minister: Minister of Environment and Climate Change; supported by a whole-of-government approach to implementation
| Effective Action on Climate Change FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) |
Program in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Develop a solid base of scientific research and analysis on climate change | Implement the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (2017-2021) which supports projects that conduct research and increase knowledge on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in four key priority areas: livestock systems; cropping systems; agricultural water use efficiency; and agroforestry. |
Research under this program will support an increased understanding and knowledge of the chemical, physical, and biological processes that lead to greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems into surface water, ground water, and the atmosphere. Developing a solid research base creates the foundation for Canada’s agricultural sector to contribute to an overall reduction in Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Performance indicator: Total number of peer-reviewed publications published under the current Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (2017-21) Starting point: 48 as of 2018-19 Target: Cumulative target of 140 by March 31, 2021 |
Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program |
| By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Develop a solid base of scientific research and analysis on climate change | Conduct targeted research to increase knowledge of climate change relative to agriculture. |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's scientific research addresses key challenges and opportunities facing agricultural production, and informs the development of departmental and broader government policies regarding adaptation to climate risk. The development of climate change research increases knowledge by the scientific community in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Performance indicator: The number of scientific articles related to climate change accepted for publication through an external peer-reviewed process Starting point: 1,494 articles under the previous Growing Forward 2 policy framework (2013-18) Target: At least 1,200 additional articles under the current Canadian Agricultural Partnership policy framework (2018-23) |
Foundational Science and Research |
| By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Develop a solid base of scientific research and analysis on climate change | Implement the Agricultural Climate Solutions - Living Labs Program to support the co-development, testing and enable the adoption of technologies and practices, including beneficial management practices, that sequester carbon and/or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.[1] |
The Living Labs stream aims to establish a national network of living labs, which bring together farmers, scientists, and other sector partners to co-develop, test, implement and monitor beneficial management practice to increase carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve other environmental co-benefits. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Performance indicators:
Starting points: No Starting Points available Targets: A target will be set in FY2022-23 |
Environment and Climate Change Programs |
| By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Support businesses and Canadians in taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions | Implement the Agricultural Clean Technology Program to support the development and adoption of clean technology that will enable reduced GHG emissions and promote sustainable growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.[2] |
The Agricultural Clean Technology Program will support projects that will develop or implement clean technologies in the priority areas of green energy and energy efficiency, precison agriculture, and the bioeconomy. The program will help drive the changes required to achieve a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Performance indicators:
Starting Points based on The Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program (2018 – 2021)
Targets: |
Environment and Climate Change Programs |
| By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Support businesses and Canadians in taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions | Implement the Agricultural Climate Solutions - On-Farm Climate Action Fund to support farmers in adopting beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases, specifically in the area of nitrogene management, cover cropping and rotational grazing.[3] |
The On-Farm Climate Action stream will support farmers in adopting BMPs that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, focusing in three areas: nitrogen management, cover cropping, and rotational grazing. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Performance indicator:
Starting Point: |
Environment and Climate Change Programs |
| By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Support businesses and Canadians in taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions | Work with provinces and territories through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector to encourage all aspects of the sector to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and beneficial management practices at farm and regional levels, with the central focus of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change. |
Programming under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership aims to increase the awareness and knowledge of beneficial management practices and climate change. It also aims to increase the adoption of practices and technologies to improve environmental performance, adapt to climate change, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Performance indicators:
Starting points:
Targets:
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Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Cost-shared Programming: Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change priority area |
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Other actions supporting the goal: Effective Action on Climate Change This section is for departmental actions that support the Effective Action on Climate Change goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Other | Implement the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (2017-21) which promotes environmentally responsible agriculture and supports the development of approaches and tools that assist the agriculture sector in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. |
The Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program supports projects that will create technologies, practices, and processes that can be adopted by farmers to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. These projects will also help farmers increase their understanding of how greenhouse gas emissions are connected to farming practices. By making such information, practices and technologies available to farmers, the program will ultimately contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and other positive longer-term environmental impacts for Canada. In turn, this will support the Government of Canada's commitments to the environment and to climate change. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Performance indicator: Starting point: 49 under the previous Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (2011-16) Target: 50 additional by March 31, 2021 under the current Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (2017-21) |
Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program |
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Other actions supporting the goal: Effective Action on Climate Change This section is for departmental actions that support the Effective Action on Climate Change goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Other |
Develop a departmental climate action plan that outlines measures to mitigate climate change risks to department operations and programs, as a follow-up to the departmental climate change risk assessment completed in 2019. The action plan will address the following priority actions:
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Understanding climate change risks to departmental operations and programs will allow adaptation measures to be planned and implemented effectively. This will entail increased training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions for public service employees, and facilitating the sharing of best practices and lessons learned. Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 13: Climate action |
Performance indicator: A climate action plan is developed to report and track progress on measures to reduce climate change risks to the department’s areas of responsibility (programs and operations) Starting point: Departmental climate change risk assessment completed in 2019 Target: By 2022, develop a departmental climate action plan |
Internal Services |
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[1] New initiative added as of February 2022. On March 18, 2021, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of $185 million over the next 10 years for the new Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) program. Targets will be set once a sufficient number of recipient work plans have been received. [2] New initiative added as of February 2022. On June 16, 2021 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada launched the Agricultural Clean Technology Program to provide farmers and agri-businesses with access to funding to help develop and adopt the latest clean technologies to reduce GHG emissions and enhance their competitiveness. Targets will be set once a sufficient number of recipient work plans have been received. [3] New initiative added as of February 2022. On August 12, 2021, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, launched a call for proposals for the On-Farm Climate Action Fund, a new fund under Agricultural Climate Solutions. The targets will be set based on the first year once sufficient number of recipient work plans have been received. [4] Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, provinces and territories set both annual targets and 5-year targets. Annual targets cannot be changed but cumulative targets for March 31, 2023 may be revised annually by the provinces and territories. The cumulative 5-year targets were adjusted as of June 30, 2020 from 1) 11, 885 to 14,166, 2) 21,374 to 21,085 and 3) 94 to 118. |
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Greening Government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate resilient, and green operations
Responsible Minister: All ministers
This goal captures commitments from the Greening Government Strategy, as well as reporting requirements under the Policy on Green Procurement.
| Greening Government FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) target(s) |
Program in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral) | All new buildings and major building retrofits will prioritize low-carbon investments based on integrated design principles, and life-cycle and total-cost-of ownership assessments which incorporate shadow carbon pricing |
Explore options and initiate implementation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Portfolio 2050 Carbon-neutral study. Construct all new federal buildings (including build-to-lease and public-private partnerships), starting at the latest in 2022, to be net-zero carbon unless a lifecycle cost benefit analysis indicates net-zero carbon ready construction, and unless incremental central funding is unavailable for projects with costs exceeding what departments can support within existing reference levels. |
Actions that reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in greenhouse gases from building operations. |
Performance indicators: Percentage change in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005-06 fiscal year (baseline) to current reporting fiscal year for:
Starting points:
Targets[5]:
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Internal Services |
| Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral) | Departments will adopt and deploy clean technologies and implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to improve the environmental performance of their buildings |
Deploy clean technologies as part of undertaking building energy efficiency measures, striving to do so on a holistic facility-basis to achieve deeper greenhouse gas reductions, which may include heating, ventilation, and air conditioning building automation optimization retrofit projects for laboratory and office complexes, and building recommissioning. Undertake facility manager energy training sessions, and increase employee awareness of energy conservation practices. |
The deployment of clean technology as part of building energy efficiency projects will raise awareness about clean technology opportunities in the built environment including specialized buildings, and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support more efficient production and consumption. | Internal Services | |
| Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral) | Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced |
Reduce carbon intensity through vehicle purchase and replacement (e.g., electric vehicles, hybrids, more fuel efficient vehicles), including by ensuring that 75% of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases, and all new executive vehicle purchases, will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet (number of vehicles, class of vehicles) and decarbonize on-road vehicles suitable for conversion from conventional fossil fuel to zero-emission vehicles and hybrids. Promote behavior change (e.g., through anti-idling campaigns, driver training, increased pooling of vehicles, and reducing elective employee travel). Augment infrastructure in support of plug-in electric vehicles. |
Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by reducing fuel consumption, by increasing usage of low-carbon transportation solutions, and by replacing conventional fossil-fueled vehicles over their lifetimes with zero-emission vehicles and hybrids. | Internal Services | |
| Divert at least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills by 2030 | Other |
Track and disclose waste diversion rates by 2022 for applicable Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities. Complete a pilot project at an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research center to optimize the reduction and diversion of waste, and develop lessons learned. Implement waste reduction measures at custodial facilities on a priority basis, where services exist, where the quantity of waste warrants it, and as waste contracts are renewed. |
Actions that reduce the generation of non-hazardous operational waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials. |
Performance indicator: Percentage of non-hazardous operational waste diverted (based on a rolling average of the mass of diverted waste, divided by the total mass of waste) Starting point: Based on annualized data from latest waste audits for the four Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities which meet the Treasury Board Secretariat reporting requirements Target: |
Internal Services |
| Divert at least 75% (by weight) of plastic waste from landfills by 2030 | Other |
Track and disclose plastic waste diversion rates by FY 2022-23[6] for applicable Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities. Promote the elimination of unnecessary use of single-use plastics in departmental operations, events and meetings. When procuring products that contain plastics, promote the procurement of sustainable plastic products, and the reduction of associated plastic packaging waste. |
Actions that reduce the generation of plastic waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from the landfill reduces landfill gas and transport waste hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials. |
Performance indicator: Percentage of plastic waste diverted (based on a rolling average of the mass of diverted plastic waste, divided by the total mass of plastic waste) starting FY 2022-23 Starting point: Based on annualized data from latest waste audits for the four Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities which meet the Treasury Board Secretariat reporting requirements Target: |
Internal Services |
| Divert at least 90% (by weight) of all construction and demolition waste from landfills (striving to achieve 100% by 2030) | Other | Track and disclose construction and demolition waste diversion rates by FY 2022-23 for applicable custodial infrastructure projects. |
Actions that reduce the generation of construction and demolition waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport, and disposal of material. Diverting waste from the landfill reduces landfill gas and transport waste hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials. |
Performance indicator: Percentage of construction and demolition waste diverted (based on the mass diverted, divided by the total mass for projects over $5 million that are completed in a given fiscal year starting FY 2022-23[7]) Starting point: Target: Metrics follow Treasury Board Secretariat reporting requirements |
Internal Services |
| Our administrative fleet will be comprised of at least 80% zero-emission vehicles by 2030 | Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced |
Ensure that 75% of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. Ensure that all new executive vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. |
Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by reducing fuel consumption, by increasing usage of low-carbon transportation solutions, and by replacing conventional fossil-fueled vehicles over their lifetimes with zero-emission vehicles and hybrids. |
Performance indicators:
Starting points:[8]
Targets:
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Internal Services |
| By 2022, departments have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services and operations | Increase training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions to public service employees, and facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned |
Take action to understand the wide range of climate change impacts that could potentially affect departmental custodial assets and operations. Develop measures to mitigate climate change risks to departmental custodial assets and operations. Use climate change adaptation planning to inform long-term investment planning. |
Factoring climate variability and change into operations is an important way the government can adapt to a changing climate. It is also consistent with the government's risk management approach of enhancing the protection of public assets and resources, and strengthening planning and decision-making. |
Performance indicators and targets:[9]
Starting points: |
Internal Services |
| By 2022, departments have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services and operations | By 2021, adopt climate-resilient building codes being developed by National Research Council Canada | Integrate climate change adaptation into the design and construction of all major real property projects in conformance with applicable building codes. | Early adoption of the codes in the construction of buildings demonstrates federal leadership in climate resilient buildings. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Internal Services |
| Use 100% clean electricity by 2025 | Other |
Participate and support the Clean Electricity Procurement Initiative led by Public Services and Procurement Canada on behalf of federal departments and agencies. Procure 35% green electricity from renewable energy sources for Alberta facilities until at least December 2021. |
The use of clean electricity eliminates greenhouse gas emissions in jurisdictions with emitting generation sources. |
Performance indicator: Percentage of clean electricity (based on electricity consumption from non-emitting sources, including renewable energy certificates, divided by the total electricity consumption in the fiscal year Starting point: Target: |
Internal Services |
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Actions supporting the goal: Greening Government This section is for actions that support the Greening Government goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions |
Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls. Promote and leverage common use procurement instruments and tools that incorporate environmental considerations where available and feasible. |
Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. |
Performance indicators:
Starting points:
Targets:
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Internal Services |
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Actions supporting the goal: Greening Government This section is for actions that support the Greening Government goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions | Ensure key officials include contribution to and support for the Policy on Green Procurement objectives in their performance evaluations. | Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Internal Services |
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Actions supporting the goal: Greening Government This section is for actions that support the Greening Government goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions | Maintain level of greenhouse gas emissions from departmental business-related travel (scoped to air travel only) to at least a 35% reduction until 2020-21 relative to 2005-06. | Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. |
Performance indicator: Starting points: Target: |
Internal Services |
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Actions supporting the goal: Greening Government This section is for actions that support the Greening Government goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Departments will adopt clean technology and undertake clean technology demonstration projects |
Explore opportunities to participate in the Innovation Solutions Canada Testing Stream. Develop operational innovation proposals for the Greening Government Fund. |
Incent, support, or procure state-of-the-art innovative clean technologies that lower the environmental footprint of government operations while contributing to the success of clean-tech businesses in Canada. |
Performance indicators and targets:
Starting points: |
Internal Services |
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Actions supporting the goal: Greening Government This section is for actions that support the Greening Government goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees | Ensure decisions makers, material management and specialists in procurement have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement. | Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to green their goods, services and supply chain. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Internal Services |
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[5] Updated in accordance with updated Greening Government Strategy. Previously, the target was a 40% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and 80% by 2050. [6] Corresponding departmental action and performance indicators for waste diversion have been updated to start in FY 2022-23 instead of 2022 as per Treasury Board Secretariat Federal Greening Government Reporting Guidance clarification. [7] Detail added to performance indicator to specify applicability of custodial infrastructure projects as per Treasury Board Secretariat Federal Greening Government Reporting Guidance. [8] Starting points updated from 1. 100% in 2018-19 to 2020-21 and 2. From 6% in 2018-19 to 4% in 2020-21 as per Treasury Board Secretariat Conventional Land Vehicle Fleet Inventory Reporting Template 2020-21. [9] Performance indicators and targets edited 1. Target pushed back one year from 2021 to 2022 due to contracting delays with the Public Service and Procurement Canada climate change risk assessment service, 2. and 3. changed from 2022 to 2023 as Treasury Board Secretariat has allowed a one year extension. [10] Target has been updated to align with the 2020 revision of the Greening Government Strategy |
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Sustainable Food: Innovation and ingenuity contribute to a world-leading agricultural sector and food economy for the benefit of all Canadians
Responsible Minister: Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
| Sustainable Food FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) |
Program in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food This section is for actions that support the Sustainable Food goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Make healthier food choices easier | Deliver the Local Food Infrastructure Fund which supports local food projects, such as those at food banks and community gardens across Canada, to provide at-risk populations, such as the less privileged and isolated communities, with improved access to healthy foods through investments in infrastructure. |
As organizations make increased investments in local food infrastructure, their capacity to provide healthy and nutritious food to the most vulnerable populations will increase. This increase in capacity will lead to an increased availability of healthy and nutritious food within these communities across Canada. Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2: Zero hunger |
Performance indicator: Number of small-scale (less than $50,000) and large-scale (greater than $50,000) infrastructure investments Starting point: Initiative was launched in June 2019. In 2019–20, 362 infrastructure investments were approved Target: |
Food Policy Initiatives |
| Make healthier food choices easier | Deliver the Emergency Food Security Fund (2020-23) which provides funding to Canadian food banks and other national food rescue organizations to help improve access to food for people experiencing food insecurity in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
The funding will be used to purchase and distribute food and to hire workers where volunteers are unavailable and buy personal protective equipment to help keep workers, volunteers, and visitors at food banks and local food organizations safe. This increase in funding will lead to an increased availability of nutritious food available during the pandemic. Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2: Zero hunger |
Performance indicator: Number of local food service organizations that receive food or funding through the program Starting point: Target: |
Food Policy Initiatives | |
| Make healthier food choices easier | Deliver the Surplus Food Rescue Program (2020-21) which aims to move surplus food commodities, caused by COVID-19's significant disruption to the Canadian food system, to food banks and other food security organizations in communities across Canada. |
The program provides assistance to organizations serving vulnerable populations to acquire and process surplus commodities and food that would otherwise be lost or destroyed and distribute them to populations in need. Sustainable Development Goals:
|
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Food Policy Initiatives | |
|
Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food |
Other | Develop and launch the Food Waste Reduction Challenge which will accelerate the implementation of innovative and concrete actions to reduce food waste in Canada. |
Issuing challenges will attract new ideas and resources for solving the complex problems of food waste in Canada. New collaborations among non-traditional partners and problem solvers will be developed, which will build capacity and facilitate the development of new innovations that help advance sustainability efforts by reducing and preventing food waste across the Canadian food supply chain. This will decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase food availability. Not only will a winning innovative solution be identified, but each of the four challenge streams will result in attracting multiple innovations that will help reduce food waste in Canada. Sustainable Development Goals: |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Food Policy Initiatives |
| Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food This section is for actions that support the Sustainable Food goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Increase knowledge supporting sustainable agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture | Conduct research to increase knowledge on the environmental effects of agriculture, including ways the sector can help protect the environment. |
Scientific research undertaken by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in collaboration with federal, provincial, and non-government organization partners, serves to make agricultural production more sustainable as scientific knowledge leads to the development of practices and processes that can be adopted in Canada. Conducting research thus contributes to the overall stability of agricultural working landscapes and their ability to sustain a high level of agricultural production by Canadian farmers. Peer-reviewed publications can be viewed on the AAFC website at Open data and scientific agricultural publications. Sustainable Development Goals:
|
Performance indicator: Starting point:
Targets:
|
Foundational Science and Research |
| Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food This section is for actions that support the Sustainable Food goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Other | Establish fora to facilitate strategic industry-government collaboration on key environmental issues facing the sector, such as a Sector Engagement Table on Sustainability.[11] |
These collaborative fora will support the long-term resilience and sustainability of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector through engagement with members from the food value chain, and with regional stakeholders focused on sustainable agriculture and best management practices[12], including to inform departmental policies and programs that promote and support sustainable agriculture practices and agri-food products. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: Baseline for regional engagement to be developed in 2022-23 |
Sector Engagement and Development |
| By 2030, support improvement in the environmental performance of the agricultural sector by achieving a score of 71 or higher for the Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability (reflecting the quality of the water, soil, air and biodiversity) | Other | Assess and report on the collective environmental impact of the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices by farmers on the Canadian landscape. |
Regular reporting on the environmental sustainability of Canadian agriculture provides an indication of the overall stability of the agricultural working environment, which assesses nutrient management, as well as the quality of water, soil, air, and biodiversity. Monitoring the agriculture sector's environmental sustainability helps federal, provincial, and non-government partners to assess whether their policies are effective in helping the sector take actions to minimize environmental risks, and use inputs efficiently. Sustainable Development Goals:
|
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: Data from specific indicator models will be available for industry and provinces to assess sustainability levels every year by 2023. Analysis of trends for indicator models will be available every two years beginning in 2023 See the Agri-Environmental Indicator Report Series – Report #4 |
Foundational Science and Research |
| Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025 | Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets | Track the value of agriculture and agri-food exports to measure the sector's contribution to Canada's economic growth. |
Tracking the value of Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports will help assess the sector's ability to compete in the global marketplace and to efficiently respond to consumer and market trends for sustainable food. This will help the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector to be more innovative, resilient, competitive, and environmentally sustainable while maintaining access to existing markets, opening new markets, and creating opportunities for economic growth. Sustainable Development Goals:
|
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Trade and Market Expansion |
| Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025 | Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets | Accelerate the demonstration, commercialization, and/or adoption of innovative agri-based products, technologies, processes, or services that increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector, by continuing to fund the AgriInnovate Program. |
This program is intended to address the financing gap present between moving agricultural, agri-food and agri-based research to commercialization, and to assist industry in mitigating the risk inherent in scaling-up products, processes, services, and technologies. This program supports agricultural, agri-food, and agri-based businesses in being innovative and sustainable, and strengthens their ability to compete in the global economy. Sustainable Development Goals:
|
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
AgriInnovate |
| Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025 | Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets | Build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector to promote innovation through the generation and commercialization of new technologies. |
Collective action by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and its federal, provincial, territorial, and non-government organization partners contributes to the overall stability of agricultural working environments and their ability to sustain a high level of agricultural production. This includes by providing programming support that promotes innovation through the generation and commercialization of new agriculture and agri-food technologies. Sustainable Development Goals:
|
Performance indicators:
Starting points:
Targets:
The five-year target for the number of new technologies attaining IP protection was surpassed in the first year of reporting. |
Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Cost-shared Programming: Science, Research, and Innovation Capacity priority area |
| Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025 | Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets | Provide programming support to the provinces and territories through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector to promote innovation by bringing awareness to new market opportunities through the development and dissemination of market intelligence. |
Generic and customized information and intelligence supports the sector in assessing market opportunities. Capitalizing on market opportunities, including high-value market opportunities, is not only innovative but necessary in expanding the domestic and international market presence of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector, and in securing Canada's position as a preferred agri-food supplier. Sustainable Development Goals:
|
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Cost-shared Programming: Markets and Trade priority area |
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[11] Launched in 2020, formerly the Value Chain Roundtable. [12] Addition of engagement with regional stakeholders focused on sustainable agriculture and best management practices, in addition to the members from the food value chain. [13] The baseline for regional engagement will be developed for 2022-23, and is in addition to the six in-person meetings. [14] Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, provinces and territories set both annual targets and 5-year targets. Annual targets cannot be changed but cumulative targets for March 31, 2023 may be revised annually by the provinces and territories. The cumulative 5-year targets were adjusted as of June 30, 2020 from 1) 1,183 to 1,036; 2) 735 to 806; 3) 1,227 to 1,251; 4) 72 to 149; 5) 1,300 to 1,239 [15] Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, provinces and territories set both annual targets and 5-year targets. Annual targets cannot be changed but cumulative targets for March 31, 2023 may be revised annually by the provinces and territories. The cumulative 5-year target was adjusted as of June 30, 2020 from 2,073 to 2,236 |
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Section 4: Integrating sustainable development
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's mission statement – "to provide leadership in the growth and development of a competitive, innovative and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri‐food sector" – identifies sustainability as a core attribute for the sector.
Agricultural production relies on the use of natural resources such as soil, water, and animal and plant biodiversity. Given this, achieving a sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector is a process of continuous improvement in the responsible use and management of agricultural resources along all points of the value chain, including producers, processors, and retailers. There is also a need to consider domestic and global agri-food markets. In response to growing global food demand, Canadian agricultural production is intensifying, increasing pressure on local resources. It is to the benefit of the sector to build and protect these resources, while translating market requirements into more sustainable choices for consumers.
Sustainable agriculture contributes to sector profitability by safeguarding the land's productive capacity now and into the future, and by reducing operating costs through increased efficiencies. It enhances the domestic and international reputation of the sector and producers as good stewards of the land and helps to both maintain access to existing markets, and open new markets, creating opportunities for growth. These outcomes are integral to the sustainability and competitiveness of the Canadian agriculture sector and support its important contribution to Canada's economy.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada continues to work in collaboration with partners such as portfolio organizations, other government departments, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous communities and industry stakeholders to create conditions for the long-term profitability, adaptability, and sustainability of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. In addition to the initiatives highlighted in previous sections of this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy, some examples of departmental efforts that support sustainable development include:
- Supporting the work of the Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table, a collaborative model between industry and government to position Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector for long-term growth.
- Advocating for the adoption of agricultural innovations (e.g., related to plant breeding).
- Supporting the development and adoption of science-based international standards for food safety, and animal and plant health.
- Engaging with multilateral institutions to advocate for rules-based international trade, and evidence-based regulation of pesticides, biotechnology, and other innovative practices in support of sustainable agriculture.
- Strengthening scientific research, including by staffing departmental scientists and science professionals in new and emerging areas to increase knowledge, enable innovations, and enhance the sector's environmental sustainability, resilience, and performance.
- Working with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to create a new Canada Water Agency that will work together with the provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, local authorities, scientists, and others to find the best ways to keep our water safe, clean, and well-managed.
- Supporting the Government of Canada's commitment to strengthen measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so that Canada can exceed its 2030 emissions reduction goal and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Together, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's activities contribute to the goals of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS), as well as a number of broader intergovernmental sustainable development goals, such as the Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan, and the Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is also responsible for implementing the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. To meet these requirements, the Department conducts strategic environmental assessments for departmental policy, plan, or program proposals, which includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, as well as considering whether the outcomes of the proposals could affect any of the FSDS goals and targets. The process comprises three steps, applied progressively as warranted, as follows:
- Initial review – a review to determine whether there is any potential for environmental effects associated with the proposal, or whether a previously conducted assessment still applies;
- Preliminary scan – an assessment to determine whether important environmental effects, either positive or negative, including effects on the achievement of FSDS goals and targets, would result from the implementation of the proposal; and
- Detailed strategic environmental assessment – a more comprehensive analysis when important environmental effects are identified, including strategies to mitigate the negative, or enhance the positive, effects, or proposed measures to address any possible public and stakeholder concerns.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is committed to:
- Exploring ways to incorporate flexibility, streamline, and adapt processes to meet various requirements of central agencies, while maintaining compliance with the Cabinet Directive;
- Maintaining a strategic environmental assessment database to track the number of policies, plans and program proposals assessed and/or strategic environmental assessments completed;
- Ensuring consideration of any effects of proposals, on the goals and targets of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy when conducting strategic environmental assessments; and
- Issuing a public statement of environmental effects whenever a detailed strategic environmental assessment is conducted, once initiatives are approved or announced, including the impact on the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy goals and targets, if applicable. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada strategic environmental assessment information can be found on the Department's website.