Research ~ Branch THE GREEN PLAN: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN AGRICULTURE. ~i~ii. ~ ILIOOEI g~ Sonya Dakers Science and Technology Division

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1 Mini-~Review MR-82E THE GREEN PLAN: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN AGRICULTURE Sonya Dakers Science and Technology Division 12 February 1991 A ~ ILIOOEI g~ ~ II ~i~ii Research ~ Branch

2 The Research Branch of Library of Parliament works exclusively for Parliament, conducting research and providing information for Commtttees and Members of Senate and : House of Commons This service is extended without partisan bias in such forms as Reports, Background Papers and Issue Reviews Research Officers in Branch are also available for personal consultation in ir respective fields of expertise

3 CANADA BIBLIOTHEQUE DU PARLEMENT THE GREEN PLAN: ENVIRONIv~NTALSUST?INA]3ILITY IN AGRICULTURE SUSTAINING OUR RENEWABLE RESOURCES anada s Green Plan was issued in December 1990 It is described as a comprehensive environmental plan of action for Government of Canada, with targets and schedules to meet its goals One of ~its objectives is to manage Canada s renewable resources without prejudicing ir future productivity, ecological diversity or capacity for regeneration The federal government is allocating $350 million to this task AGRICULTURE?~NDTHE ENVIRONMENT Thanslated to agricultural I this means conserving our agricultural resource base and protecting it from external impacts while at same time reducing its contribution to pollution, for agriculture is both vulnerable and a contributor to environmental degradation It also impinges on, yet suffers losses from wildlife It adds large amounts of greenhouse gases to atmosphere, yet is very susceptible to any resulting climate change The Green Plan attempts to respond to se issues It adopts three objectives of framework for action agreed to by federal and provincial Ministers of Agriculture in August 1990: to conserve and enhance natural resources that agriculture uses and shares; to be compatible with or environmental resources that are affected by agriculture; and

4 BIBLIOTHEQUE DU PARLEMENT 2 to be proactive in protecting agri-food sector from environmental impacts caused by or sectors arid factors external to agriculture The Ministers considered that long-term survival of agriculture and its competitiveness depended on more environmentally-sustainable practices PROCESS AND PRIORITIES The Green implementing Plan outlines se objectives a three-part strategy ~ for The primary ~thrust is to strengn processes for cooperation among agri-food partners A national advisory council is to be established to promote exchange of information and to monitor implementation of action plan tives from existing It would include representa- federal-provincial accord committees These committees are to have a broadened role in helping to develop new federalprovincial agreements Such arrangements would go beyond original soil and water accords that constitute present intergovernmental framework It was in late 1985 that seeds of se accords were sown with establishment of a task force on soil conservation financing was made available In December 1987, It took anor three years for agreements across entire country to be signed, a factor to be considered if timeliness is important in expanding accords The issues identified in Green Plan as priorities for federal-provincial action are soil conservation, a clean water supply, management of waste, integration of agriculture and dl, protection of genetic resources and impact of agriculture on climatic change The Conservation government ~proposes Program, which is to promoting extend soil National conservation Soil through ~ demonstrations, research, and technical and financial assistance It will increase support for water cjuality research into reducing pollution overall goal to cut waste agricultural RECYCLED/RECYCLE from pesticides, fertilizers and wastes With an generation in half by year 2000, sector is expected to make its contribution to reducing,

5 BIBLIOTH~QUE DU PARLEMENT 3 re-using and recycling wastes develqçment of se new Funding will consequently be directed at ( 3R) technologies and at research into alternative uses of agri-food wastes Since re are to be national packaging standards and regulations in place by to help reduce waste - developuent of re-usable and recyclable packaging materials is likely to become a priority for industry, given its insatiable appetite for new containers or packages to attract consumers Some resources are being allocated to manage conflicts Or resources will be directed at between agriculture and wildlife developing methodologies to preserve genetic diversity of crops and animals One such proposal is a national network of genetic study sites Agriculture consumes 1 1% of its tillage, activities atmosphere heating, Through ventilation, se ana s total energy needs in transportation activities, it and contributes processing CO~ to Poor soil management, that leads to declining organic matter, releases C 2~ CH4 and N2 0 in atmosphere Ruminants and animal manures release methane gas Agriculture is expected to do its part in meeting overall goal of Green Plan to stabilize greenhouse gases at levels by year 2000 Emphasis will be placed on rebuilding soil organic matter and developing techniques to reduce methane production The Green Plan does not address impact of climate variability on sustain- ability of agriculture PROGRAM REFORM A second major thrust to implement action plan is aimed at existing policies and programs already underway, A number of initiatives are reported applying criteria to such areas as transportation, safety net assistance programs and production practices in order to make m more sustainable Steps are being taken to ensure that environmental, social and economic considerations are all taken into account in reform of agricultural policies and programs RECYCLED/RECYCLE

6 BIBLIOTHEQUE DU PARLEMENT 4 POLICY INS~RUINTS The third pillar of implementation strategy contains elements of a flexible approach towards sustainability It utilizes a variety of policy instruments, including education, technology transfer, technical and financial incentives, research, and regulatory support measures to assist farmers to be more environmentally sustainable CONCLUSION While Green Plan lists a number of measures that respond to first two objectives of framework for action adopted by agricultural Ministers in August 1990, report is silent on third framework objective to protect agri-food sector from external environmental threats It is not sufficient to encompass only impacts of agriculture on itself or on ors Impacts from or, wher effects of urban sprawl or pollution on crop production or impact of CO2 on crop yield, will prevent agriculture from becoming sustainable These considerations are also crucial to environmental sustainability of agriculture ~ RECYCLED/RECYCLE