Canada's fertilizer emissions reduction target

Canada's fertilizer emissions reduction target (PDF version, 486KB)

Ambitious and achievable

Canadian farmers are key partners in the fight against climate change

They lead by...

• taking action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and by
• improving the sustainability of their farming operations.

We will support by

• helping producers reduce fertilizer emissions in a way that will not compromise yields
• building on the innovation, expertise, and ingenuity of Canadian farmers
• investing $1.5B to help producers reduce GHG emissions including improved nitrogen management
• establishing the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership and investing $250M through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program

Tackling climate change will enable long-term vitality of the sector – while positioning producers and processors to seize economic opportunities from evolving consumer demands.

Fertilizers are vital for producers, and vital for global food security, but their use results in the release of nitrous oxide – a powerful GHG.

Many producers are already using approaches that reduce GHG emissions – but there are ways to support farmers in using new technologies, practices and approaches to further reduce GHG emissions. Our target to reduce fertilizer emissions by 30% by 2030 is ambitious, and achievable. The target was established to help encourage more farm-specific approaches to reverse the trend of increasing emissions arising from fertilizer use.

We will work together to reduce emissions. Our voluntary approach is flexible, collaborative, and based in science.

Our goal is to reduce harmful emissions while supporting fertilizer efficiency and increasing yields.

What’s next?

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s consultations were completed August 31, 2022 – but the discussion continues. As we analyze feedback, please read our Discussion Document outlining our objectives, the case for action, practices, and activities to reduce fertilizer emissions – including the 4R Nutrient Stewardship approach – and an overview of opportunities for the agriculture sector.

• Why a target?
  • Improve farming sustainability
• What’s the target’s goal?
  • Maximize fertilizer efficiency
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Maintain or increase yields

Building on what producers are already doing to improve their nutrient management:

• Timing their fertilizer application to match crop demand.
• Using a urease and nitrification inhibitors in combination is one way to reduce unintended nitrogen losses in the form of nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions, ensuring that nitrogen goes to the growing crop and not to the atmosphere. (15-35% potential emissions reduction)
• Using livestock manure as fertilizers, as well as using composts, digestates, biosolids and biochar, which provide a stable source of nitrogen and provide soil organic matter, building soil carbon while enriching soils and generating economic benefits. (10-20% potential emissions reduction)
• Using legume cover crops that capture nitrogen from the air, that later decompose and feed the soil, while reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers, as well as growing catch crops after harvest to use leftover nitrogen and avoid its release into the environment. (15-25% potential emissions reduction)
• Carefully choosing crop rotations to reduce fertilizer use, including integrating pulses and other legumes in rotations that do not require nitrogen fertilizer in the year they are grown, and that can leave a nitrogen credit in the soil for the subsequent crop, reducing the need for as much nitrogen in the following year. (15-25% potential emissions reduction)
• Applying 4R Nutrient Stewardship– right source, right rate, right time, right place – and other holistic nutrient management approaches to improve sustainability of their crops.
• Using precision agriculture technology to tailor fertilizer application rates based on in-field variability to optimize crop uptake.