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CFIB urges ‘voluntary’ approach to fertilizer emission reduction


August 4, 2022  by Manure Manager

The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) has issued a statement with its official stance on the federal government’s recent updated targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fertilizer.

The most recent agreement for the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership includes stronger targets such as a three to five MT reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Some, such as Ontario agriculture minister Lisa Thompson, have expressed objection or disappointment to this update. Now, the CFIB has added its voice to the matter.

“The federal government must ensure it does not mandate Canadian agri-businesses to reduce the use of their nitrogen fertilizer in the future,” the CFIB said in a statement. It added that 72 percent of farmers said their yield or overall food production would be reduced if the federal government required them to reduce their use of nitrogen fertilizer, and 60 percent of businesses said a mandatory reduction would decrease the profitability of their agri-business.

“Right now, the emissions reduction target is voluntary, and it should stay that way,” said Corinne Pohlmann, SVP of national at CFIB, in a statement. “Requiring Canadian agri-businesses to reduce their use of nitrogen fertilizer would add another hurdle and have negative impacts on the industry that is already hard hit by skyrocketing input costs and supply chain delays.”

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The survey on the fertilizer emissions reduction plan was conducted online with CFIB members between April 14 and April 29 and data is based on 472 responses. The previous survey on impacts of nitrogen fertilizer on agri-businesses was conducted online between Oct. 25 and Nov. 30, 2021. The data is based on 361 responses.

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