2022-2023 Departmental Results Report - United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)	2022–23 planned departmental initiatives	Associated domestic targets or "ambitions" and/or global targets	2022–23 results
SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture	A Food Policy for Canada Launched in 2019, the vision of the Food Policy for Canada is that "all people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food. Canada's food system is resilient and innovative, sustains our environment and supports our economy."	This initiative contributes to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework ambition that Canadians have access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food	As part of the Food Policy for Canada, the Local Food Infrastructure Fund continued to provide funding to reduce food insecurity by strengthening local food systems through investments in infrastructure needs. In 2022–23, $19.5 million was invested in 79 infrastructure projects for community-based, not-for-profit organizations as well as Indigenous groups to increase the availability of healthy and nutritious food in their communities. Budget 2023 announced an additional $10 million in grant funding to the program, bringing the total program investment to $70 million. In addition, the AgriCommunication Program supports activities that raise consumer appreciation and trust of the contributions made by farmers and the food industry, serving to advance the vision of the Food Policy for Canada. In 2022–23, AAFC released a public opinion research report under the program, exploring consumer and producer perceptions on environmental sustainability in the sector.
SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture	Canadian Agricultural Partnership The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a $3 billion five-year (2018-2023), investment by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments to strengthen and grow Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. Agricultural Climate Solutions: Living Labs and On-Farm Climate Action Fund The Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) Living Labs aims to incent and accelerate on-farm co-development, testing, monitoring, dissemination, and adoption of Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) that sequester carbon, mitigate climate change, and provide environmental co-benefits and social benefits. ACS Living Labs is a program under the Natural Climate Solutions Fund (NCSF), a horizontal initiative led by Natural Resources Canada, with Environment and Climate Change Canada and AAFC, which aims to develop projects that invest in natural climate solutions. The ACS On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) aims to accelerate the adoption of farm practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and achieve other environmental co-benefits. The program, also under the NCSF, focuses on supporting BMP adoption in three areas: improving nitrogen management; increasing adoption of cover cropping; and, normalizing rotational grazing.	These initiatives contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework ambition that Canada's agriculture is sustainable Canadian Indicator Framework target 2.2 — "By 2030, support improvement in the environmental performance of the agriculture sector by achieving a score of 71 or higher for the Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability" Global target (PDF) 2.4 — "By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality"	The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) policy framework was a five-year, $3-billion investment that concluded on March 31, 2023. The programs and initiatives under CAP served to advance the framework's jointly agreed-upon priorities of: growing trade and expanding markets; the innovative and sustainable growth of the sector; and supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector. In July 2022, AAFC announced an investment of almost $54 million to establish nine new collaborative living lab projects. This first wave of projects includes the first Indigenous-led living lab, by the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, which advances efforts towards the common goal of environmental improvement, while protecting Indigenous values, treaties, communities, lands, and resources. In March 2022, Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan included an investment of $470 million for the expansion and extension of the OFCAF. In addition to the 12 projects initially approved under the Fund, a $4.8 million Indigenous-led project was approved in June 2022. Interim progress reports indicate that the Fund's recipient organizations are on pace to surpass their targets in supporting the adoption of beneficial management practices to reduce greenhouse gases, sequester carbon, and provide other environmental co-benefits. Activities supported through the OFCAF are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 2 million tonnes by 2024, along with improving biodiversity and soil resiliency.
SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all	Agricultural Clean Technology Program Recognizing that many Canadian farmers use natural gas and propane in their operations, the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program provides support for the development and adoption of clean technology. One of the Program's priority areas is green energy and energy efficiency, which will support the purchase and installation of more efficient technologies, including more efficient grain dryers, and technologies that will help farms shift from diesel to clean energy.	This program indirectly supports the following targets: Global target (PDF) 7.2 — "By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix" Global target (PDF) 7.3 — "By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency"	In 2022–23, the Government of Canada provided an additional $330 million to triple the amount of funding initially committed for the ACT Program, to assist farmers in developing and purchasing more energy-efficient equipment, contribute to the low carbon economy, and promote sustainable growth in the agriculture and agri-food sector. The ACT Research and Innovation Stream committed $12.6 million in funding in 2022–23 for 16 projects that develop and demonstrate clean technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many approved projects focused on bioeconomy solutions such as biomass processing and utilization technologies, along with developing fertilizer alternatives, manure management technologies, and emissions measurement and verification technologies. The ACT Adoption Stream supported 168 projects in 2022–23, totaling just under $50 million, enabling the purchase and installation of clean technologies that will reduce emissions and provide other environmental benefits. Many funded projects focused on green energy and energy efficiency technologies, including more efficient grain dryers and solar panels.
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all	Canadian Agricultural Partnership — business risk management programs The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a $3 billion five-year (2018-2023), investment by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments to strengthen and grow Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. Business risk management programs will continue to help producers manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farm and are beyond their capacity to manage.	These programs indirectly contribute to the following target: Global target (PDF) 8.3 — "Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services"	In addition to the adoption of innovative and beneficial management practices, the effective implementation of a suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) tools is essential for producers to ensure the viability of their operations. In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments and industry, and in line with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food's mandate letter commitments, AAFC continued to deliver and make targeted improvements to BRM programs in 2022–23, both under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and in preparing for the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2023-2028).
SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation	Global Agricultural Monitoring The purpose of Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative (GEOGLAM) is to increase market transparency and improve food security by producing and disseminating relevant, timely, and actionable information on agricultural conditions and outlooks of production at national, regional, and global scales. It achieves this by strengthening the international community's capacity to utilize coordinated, comprehensive, and sustained Earth observations. AAFC is involved through scientific cooperation with this international organization.	These partnerships help indirectly support the following target: Global target (PDF) 9.5 — "Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending"	The primary objective of Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative (GEOGLAM) is to reinforce the international community's capacity to produce and disseminate timely and accurate information on, and forecasts of, agricultural production at national, regional, and global scales using satellite and in-situ Earth observations. As a member of GEOGLAM, AAFC contributes to the organization through the coordination of satellite, in-situ, agro-meteorological observations, and the transparent sharing of methods and information relating to the use of Earth observation systems for agricultural monitoring. GEOGLAM aims to strengthen national, regional, and global monitoring systems and improve access to timely, accurate, and actionable information.
SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns	Food Waste Reduction Challenge The Food Waste Reduction Challenge will accelerate the implementation of innovative and concrete actions to reduce food waste in the food processing, grocery retail, and food service sectors. The Challenge will seek to attract new ideas, partners, and resources to invest in solving the complex problem of food waste, prompt new collaborations among non-traditional partners and problem solvers, gather new data, and build the capacity of new innovators and support their entry into the market.	This initiative contributes to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework ambition that Canadians consume in a sustainable manner Canadian Indicator Framework indicator 12.3.1 — "Total waste diversion per capita" Global target (PDF) 12.3 — "By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses" Global target (PDF) 12.5 — "By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse" Global target (PDF) 12.6 — "Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle"	The Food Waste Reduction Challenge, launched in 2020, is a $20 million initiative under the Food Policy for Canada, aimed at delivering high-impact solutions to food waste in Canada. This Challenge provides support to innovators with either business models or novel technologies which prevent, divert, and/or transform food waste or extend the life of food. In 2022–23, the Challenge continued supporting innovators through the stage-gated process. In the Business Models streams, 12 of the 24 semi-finalists were awarded up to $400,000 each and moved onto the final stage of the Challenge to accelerate and scale up the commercialization of their solution. In the Novel Technologies streams, six of the 18 semi-finalists received up to $450,000 and moved on to the final stage of the Challenge to test their technology in an operational environment with at least one partner.
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts	Agricultural Climate Solutions: Living Labs and On-Farm Climate Action Fund The Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) Living Labs aims to incent and accelerate on-farm co-development, testing, monitoring, dissemination, and adoption of Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) that sequester carbon, mitigate climate change, and provide environmental co-benefits and social benefits. ACS Living Labs is a program under the Natural Climate Solutions Fund (NCSF), a horizontal initiative led by Natural Resources Canada, with Environment and Climate Change Canada and AAFC, which aims to develop projects that invest in natural climate solutions. The ACS On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) aims to accelerate the adoption of farm practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and achieve other environmental co-benefits. The program, also under the NCSF, focuses on supporting BMP adoption in three areas: improving nitrogen management; increasing adoption of cover cropping; and, normalizing rotational grazing.	This initiative contributes to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework ambition that Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions Canadian Indicator Framework target 13.1 — "By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions" Global target (PDF) 13.1 — "Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries"	In July 2022, AAFC announced an investment of almost $54 million to establish nine new collaborative living lab projects. This first wave of projects includes the first Indigenous-led living lab, by the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, which advances efforts towards the common goal of environmental improvement, while protecting Indigenous values, treaties, communities, lands, and resources. In March 2022, Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan included an investment of $470 million for the expansion and extension of the OFCAF. In addition to the 12 projects initially approved under the Fund, a $4.8 million Indigenous-led project was approved in June 2022. Interim progress reports indicate that the Fund's recipient organizations are on pace to surpass their targets in supporting the adoption of beneficial management practices to reduce greenhouse gases, sequester carbon, and provide other environmental co-benefits. Activities supported through the OFCAF are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 2 million tonnes by 2024, along with improving biodiversity and soil resiliency.
SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss	Drought Watch initiative The Drought Watch website provides timely and up-to-date information on a variety of climate variables affecting Canada's agriculture. One key component of the website's monitoring and reporting functions is the Canadian Drought Monitor and outlooks which provide monthly assessments of drought as well as a monthly forecast of drought across Canada. The site also tracks and maps a variety of agro-climate impacts including flood, drought heat waves, frosts, and their impact on the crop and livestock sectors. The site also provides producers access to a variety of information on managing agroclimate risks.	This initiative indirectly contributes to advancing: Global target (PDF) 15.3 — "By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world"	The Drought Watch material remained among the most frequently viewed web material on the AAFC site in 2022–23. The Canadian Drought Monitor was the 4th most popular page on AAFC online with 45,966 visits in 2022. While the name 'Drought Watch' was changed to 'Weather and drought related to agriculture' as part of a Canada.ca site restructure, the website continues to provide the same content and tools. Improvements made in 2022 included optimized findability with a new page layout and a new interactive Climate Normals Map viewer with 30-year averages of a suite of agro-climate indicators.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2022–23 planned departmental initiatives

Associated domestic targets or "ambitions" and/or global targets

2022–23 results

SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

A Food Policy for Canada

Launched in 2019, the vision of the Food Policy for Canada is that "all people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food. Canada's food system is resilient and innovative, sustains our environment and supports our economy."

This initiative contributes to advancing:

Canadian Indicator Framework ambition that Canadians have access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food

As part of the Food Policy for Canada, the Local Food Infrastructure Fund continued to provide funding to reduce food insecurity by strengthening local food systems through investments in infrastructure needs. In 2022–23, $19.5 million was invested in 79 infrastructure projects for community-based, not-for-profit organizations as well as Indigenous groups to increase the availability of healthy and nutritious food in their communities. Budget 2023 announced an additional $10 million in grant funding to the program, bringing the total program investment to $70 million.

In addition, the AgriCommunication Program supports activities that raise consumer appreciation and trust of the contributions made by farmers and the food industry, serving to advance the vision of the Food Policy for Canada. In 2022–23, AAFC released a public opinion research report under the program, exploring consumer and producer perceptions on environmental sustainability in the sector.

SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

Canadian Agricultural Partnership

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a $3 billion five-year (2018-2023), investment by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments to strengthen and grow Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector.

Agricultural Climate Solutions: Living Labs and On-Farm Climate Action Fund

The Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) Living Labs aims to incent and accelerate on-farm co-development, testing, monitoring, dissemination, and adoption of Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) that sequester carbon, mitigate climate change, and provide environmental co-benefits and social benefits. ACS Living Labs is a program under the Natural Climate Solutions Fund (NCSF), a horizontal initiative led by Natural Resources Canada, with Environment and Climate Change Canada and AAFC, which aims to develop projects that invest in natural climate solutions.

The ACS On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) aims to accelerate the adoption of farm practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and achieve other environmental co-benefits. The program, also under the NCSF, focuses on supporting BMP adoption in three areas: improving nitrogen management; increasing adoption of cover cropping; and, normalizing rotational grazing.

These initiatives contribute to advancing:

Canadian Indicator Framework ambition that Canada's agriculture is sustainable

Canadian Indicator Framework target 2.2 — "By 2030, support improvement in the environmental performance of the agriculture sector by achieving a score of 71 or higher for the Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability"

Global target (PDF) 2.4 — "By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality"

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) policy framework was a five-year, $3-billion investment that concluded on March 31, 2023. The programs and initiatives under CAP served to advance the framework's jointly agreed-upon priorities of: growing trade and expanding markets; the innovative and sustainable growth of the sector; and supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector.

In July 2022, AAFC announced an investment of almost $54 million to establish nine new collaborative living lab projects. This first wave of projects includes the first Indigenous-led living lab, by the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, which advances efforts towards the common goal of environmental improvement, while protecting Indigenous values, treaties, communities, lands, and resources.

In March 2022, Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan included an investment of $470 million for the expansion and extension of the OFCAF. In addition to the 12 projects initially approved under the Fund, a $4.8 million Indigenous-led project was approved in June 2022. Interim progress reports indicate that the Fund's recipient organizations are on pace to surpass their targets in supporting the adoption of beneficial management practices to reduce greenhouse gases, sequester carbon, and provide other environmental co-benefits. Activities supported through the OFCAF are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 2 million tonnes by 2024, along with improving biodiversity and soil resiliency.

SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Agricultural Clean Technology Program

Recognizing that many Canadian farmers use natural gas and propane in their operations, the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program provides support for the development and adoption of clean technology. One of the Program's priority areas is green energy and energy efficiency, which will support the purchase and installation of more efficient technologies, including more efficient grain dryers, and technologies that will help farms shift from diesel to clean energy.

This program indirectly supports the following targets:

Global target (PDF) 7.2 — "By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix"

Global target (PDF) 7.3 — "By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency"

In 2022–23, the Government of Canada provided an additional $330 million to triple the amount of funding initially committed for the ACT Program, to assist farmers in developing and purchasing more energy-efficient equipment, contribute to the low carbon economy, and promote sustainable growth in the agriculture and agri-food sector.

The ACT Research and Innovation Stream committed $12.6 million in funding in 2022–23 for 16 projects that develop and demonstrate clean technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many approved projects focused on bioeconomy solutions such as biomass processing and utilization technologies, along with developing fertilizer alternatives, manure management technologies, and emissions measurement and verification technologies.

The ACT Adoption Stream supported 168 projects in 2022–23, totaling just under $50 million, enabling the purchase and installation of clean technologies that will reduce emissions and provide other environmental benefits. Many funded projects focused on green energy and energy efficiency technologies, including more efficient grain dryers and solar panels.

SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Canadian Agricultural Partnership — business risk management programs

Business risk management programs will continue to help producers manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farm and are beyond their capacity to manage.

These programs indirectly contribute to the following target:

Global target (PDF) 8.3 — "Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services"

In addition to the adoption of innovative and beneficial management practices, the effective implementation of a suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) tools is essential for producers to ensure the viability of their operations. In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments and industry, and in line with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food's mandate letter commitments, AAFC continued to deliver and make targeted improvements to BRM programs in 2022–23, both under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and in preparing for the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2023-2028).

SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Global Agricultural Monitoring

The purpose of Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative (GEOGLAM) is to increase market transparency and improve food security by producing and disseminating relevant, timely, and actionable information on agricultural conditions and outlooks of production at national, regional, and global scales. It achieves this by strengthening the international community's capacity to utilize coordinated, comprehensive, and sustained Earth observations.

AAFC is involved through scientific cooperation with this international organization.

These partnerships help indirectly support the following target:

Global target (PDF) 9.5 — "Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending"

The primary objective of Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative (GEOGLAM) is to reinforce the international community's capacity to produce and disseminate timely and accurate information on, and forecasts of, agricultural production at national, regional, and global scales using satellite and in-situ Earth observations.

As a member of GEOGLAM, AAFC contributes to the organization through the coordination of satellite, in-situ, agro-meteorological observations, and the transparent sharing of methods and information relating to the use of Earth observation systems for agricultural monitoring. GEOGLAM aims to strengthen national, regional, and global monitoring systems and improve access to timely, accurate, and actionable information.

SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Food Waste Reduction Challenge

The Food Waste Reduction Challenge will accelerate the implementation of innovative and concrete actions to reduce food waste in the food processing, grocery retail, and food service sectors. The Challenge will seek to attract new ideas, partners, and resources to invest in solving the complex problem of food waste, prompt new collaborations among non-traditional partners and problem solvers, gather new data, and build the capacity of new innovators and support their entry into the market.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

Canadian Indicator Framework ambition that Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

Canadian Indicator Framework indicator 12.3.1 — "Total waste diversion per capita"

Global target (PDF) 12.3 — "By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses"

Global target (PDF) 12.5 — "By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse"

Global target (PDF) 12.6 — "Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle"

The Food Waste Reduction Challenge, launched in 2020, is a $20 million initiative under the Food Policy for Canada, aimed at delivering high-impact solutions to food waste in Canada. This Challenge provides support to innovators with either business models or novel technologies which prevent, divert, and/or transform food waste or extend the life of food.

In 2022–23, the Challenge continued supporting innovators through the stage-gated process. In the Business Models streams, 12 of the 24 semi-finalists were awarded up to $400,000 each and moved onto the final stage of the Challenge to accelerate and scale up the commercialization of their solution. In the Novel Technologies streams, six of the 18 semi-finalists received up to $450,000 and moved on to the final stage of the Challenge to test their technology in an operational environment with at least one partner.

SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Agricultural Climate Solutions: Living Labs and On-Farm Climate Action Fund

This initiative contributes to advancing:

Canadian Indicator Framework ambition that Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions

Canadian Indicator Framework target 13.1 — "By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions"

Global target (PDF) 13.1 — "Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries"

SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Drought Watch initiative

The Drought Watch website provides timely and up-to-date information on a variety of climate variables affecting Canada's agriculture. One key component of the website's monitoring and reporting functions is the Canadian Drought Monitor and outlooks which provide monthly assessments of drought as well as a monthly forecast of drought across Canada. The site also tracks and maps a variety of agro-climate impacts including flood, drought heat waves, frosts, and their impact on the crop and livestock sectors. The site also provides producers access to a variety of information on managing agroclimate risks.

This initiative indirectly contributes to advancing:

Global target (PDF) 15.3 — "By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world"

The Drought Watch material remained among the most frequently viewed web material on the AAFC site in 2022–23. The Canadian Drought Monitor was the 4th most popular page on AAFC online with 45,966 visits in 2022. While the name 'Drought Watch' was changed to 'Weather and drought related to agriculture' as part of a Canada.ca site restructure, the website continues to provide the same content and tools.

Improvements made in 2022 included optimized findability with a new page layout and a new interactive Climate Normals Map viewer with 30-year averages of a suite of agro-climate indicators.