Originally posted September 4th by Government of Canada
Over the past 20 years, Canadian producers have made notable improvements in environmental management practices, particularly through advances in soil health, carbon sequestration and practices aimed at improving input use efficiency. They have also increased production while maintaining greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The sector has directly benefited from the actions taken to care for the environment. These actions have been observed on farms across Canada through the adoption of innovative and sustainable practices.
Canadian agriculture is sustainable and resilient in many ways
The range of sustainable practices used in Canada reflects the diversity of the country’s soils and regional conditions on which our agriculture is based. In Western Canada, the widespread use of no-till has improved the ability of soils to retain moisture and contributed to making our food production more drought-resistant. In Eastern Canada, farmers are using minimum tillage which leaves crop residue on the soil surface, along with cover crops and companion cropping, to protect and increase soil organic matter in environments where water can be in excess.
Healthy soils that store carbon
Canada’s agricultural soils have gone from a net carbon source in 1981, emitting 1.2 megatonnes of CO2, to a carbon sink in the 1990’s. Since then, although soil carbon sequestration varies across regions and years, agricultural soils in Canada are typically a net carbon sink, removing a total of about 50 mega tonnes of CO2 in the last five years. The use of soil health practices by producers across the country has been very effective at storing carbon, particularly in the Prairies, which contributed significantly to this shift.
Organic farming for sustainability
Organic agriculture benefits soil and biodiversity, and can be profitable in the long-term due to reduced input use and better product prices, despite often experiencing lower yields. In recent decades, there has been a steady increase in the share of farms reporting organic production, with a 200% increase between 2001 and 2021. The fruit and vegetable sector has led the way with 7.2% of farms now producing organically.
Increasing renewable energy
Over three-quarters of farms in Canada that reported renewable energy production in 2021 used that energy on their farms, while the number of farms producing energy has doubled between 2016 and 2021. Today, over 10% of farms in Canada reported at least one form of renewable energy production. This includes Canada’s growing bioenergy sector, with agriculture, forestry and urban waste supplying over 6% of the country’s total primary energy. Some renewable energy systems use food waste and leftover farm materials (for example, manure and crop residue) to produce electricity and heat for use on farms. Some producers and food processors are selling biogas that has been upgraded to renewable natural gas, which helps reduce emissions from the natural gas network.
Producing more with less
Over the past 25 years, Canadian producers have shown their capacity to produce more food with lower GHG emissions. Work in that direction continues. After accounting for inflation, the GDP of the Canadian agriculture sector grew faster than net GHG emissions from the sector between 1997 and 2024. The noticeable rise in precision application of agricultural inputs and use of drought and disease-resistant varieties has reflected the commitment of producers to optimize input use while maintaining yields and reducing environmental risks. Practices include banding of fertilizer, using GPS technology, and doing more soil testing.
Working with nature
The diversity of agricultural landscapes helps maintain unique ecosystems for Canada’s native species and contributes to greater resilience in the face of climate stress and pest pressures. Over the past 20 years, the percentage of farms with riparian buffers and shelterbelts has grown. Grasslands, pastures, and hayfields used to feed livestock account for nearly three-quarters of the total wildlife habitat capacity in the agriculture sector. However, the lands used for them have been decreasing gradually over recent decades, highlighting the contribution of livestock producers in maintaining these landscapes. This contribution is particularly noticeable on the Prairie grasslands, where sustainable grazing practices help sustain what remains of this globally endangered ecosystem.
Protecting water resources
Using inputs more efficiently and keeping soil covered with plants has helped reduce the risk of erosion and nutrient runoff into rivers and streams. Better management of manure and nutrients, along with keeping livestock away from watercourses, has also contributed to improved water quality.
Mobilization across the value chain
Alongside on-farm action, the sector has mobilized to develop tools to support the sustainability of the entire industry. The last 20 years have seen a growth and diversification of initiatives led by the entire value chain, such as ambitious sustainability and GHG emissions-reduction commitments, assurance systems, and indicators to measure their progress. Financial mechanisms supported by the value chain have also been put in place to support farmers in protecting and enhancing the ecosystem services their lands provide. Producers, processors and retailers have also come together to develop sustainable certifications, including the organic certification, which enabled trade of organic products with more than 25 countries since the introduction of the Organic Products Regulations at the national level in 2009.
Continually improving to address challenges and find opportunities
Canada has made significant progress in sustainable agriculture over the past 20 years, but more work remains. Each type of farming presents its own opportunities and challenges, and economic factors continue to influence the decisions made on farms. In Canada, lands in annual crops are expanding, often at the expense of grasslands, pastures and hay fields. These systems need more inputs, provide less habitat to support biodiversity and can leave soils bare. The use of no-till and low-till practices has been crucial to protecting soils, storing carbon and retaining moisture against more frequent droughts. Yet, these practices have driven an increase in herbicide use to manage weeds. Strategies to reduce runoff, leaching, and drift from these inputs, such as precision agriculture and buffer strips, help protect water quality and support biodiversity.
Adapting to an ever-changing world
Shifting global economies, changing trade relationships, global markets and the impacts of a changing climate will continue to shape farming in Canada. Producers have always adapted to new challenges. They are continuing to look for new solutions, using the latest technology and knowledge to improve productivity, conserve resources on which they depend, and earn a decent living while maintaining a strong industry. Research and innovation will continue to advance knowledge and improve our practices. Through collaboration, Canada’s agriculture and food sector will continue to build on its successes to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, remain productive, competitive, and supportive of healthy agricultural ecosystems that feed people at home and around the world, thereby contributing to national and global food security.
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