Fertilizer Canada has released 4R Nutrient Stewardship Sustainability Report, which details guidelines for nutrient management and water quality.
The association represents the fertilizer industry: manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers. Their new report outlines the work done to date and the continued commitment of the industry in driving sustainability throughout the agriculture sector.
“Sustainability has always been an integral part of our activities and initiatives at Fertilizer Canada,” said Garth Whyte, president and CEO of Fertilizer Canada. “This report represents a step forward on our journey to set and document concrete sustainability goals in a quantifiable and verifiable manner.”
Fertilizer Canada will measure its future performance based on issues, such as:
- reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions;
- reducing nutrient runoff and leaching to freshwater;
- aligning farm profitability with sustainability; and
- improving fertilizer stewardship in urban centres.
Their water quality data are gathered via edge of the field nitrogen and phosphorus loss, nitrogen and phosphorus conetration, and nitrate groundwater concentration. They also work with watershed groups, conservation authorities, and farm groups to research new fertilizer management practices.
The association forwarded efficient fertilizer management through practices like their 4R Nutrient Stewardship—a science-based program that allows growers to target their crops’ specific nutrient needs to increase quality and yield while simultaneously reducing unwanted nutrient losses—as fundamental to creating truly sustainable agriculture.
“We’re driven to get sustainability right by supporting Canada’s development goals and promoting the adoption and implementation of innovative fertilizer management practices like 4R Nutrient Stewardship,” said Whyte.
With the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Sustainability Report, Fertilizer Canada tracked sustainability milestones as delivered through several initiatives against an initial list of key performance indicators (KPIs). The KPIs measure the environmental, economic, and social impact of the association’s activities as they pertain to agriculture sustainability. Fertilizer Canada sees this as an essential step in setting and reaching sustainability targets as demand for agri-products continues to increase.
Read the full report on Fertilizer Canada’s website.
