Title: Environment Canada
1 National Agri-Environmental Standards
Initiative For the Agricultural Policy Framework
Environment Canada
October 25, 2004
2004
1
2Outline
- APF Context
- EC Context
- NAESI Approach
- Linkages
- Outcomes Benefits
2
3Agriculture Policy Framework Context
- Agriculture Ministers agreed to accelerate action
towards common environmental goals for air,
water, soil, biodiversity and farm environmental
management - Goal is to brand Canada as the world leader in
food safety, innovation and, environmentally
responsible production
3
4APF Context Elements of the framework agreement
5AGRICULTURAL POLICY FRAMEWORK- CONTEXT FOR NAESI
Reduce Agricultural Risk and Provide Benefits to
quality of Air, Biodiversity, Soil and Water
Renewal
Food Safety
Business Risk Management
Environment
Delivery Mechanisms
Science And Innovation
On- Farm Action
Knowledge Information tools
Performance Measurement
- Environmental
- Farm Plans
- Stewardship
- (BMPs)
- Greencover
- National Water
- Supply Expansion
- Program
- Certification
- Environmental
- Technology
- Assessment
- National Land
- Water Information
- System
- Minor Use
- Pesticides
- NAESI
- NAHARP
- Water Quality
- Survey (HC)
6Environment Canada Context
-
- Joint MOU provides framework for standards
- 4 year mandate (2004-2008), 25M budget
- Advance environment mandate via AAFC- Agriculture
Sector collaboration on priority issues (of
Environment Chapter) - Integration of agriculture programs with other
federal priorities for the environment
6
7NAESI Context
- Goal Support a consistent national approach to
achievement of common environmental outcomes over
the long term - Support the move to environmental farm planning
and farm certification - Enhance environmental performance of agricultural
sector and Promote environmental stewardship
9
8NAESI Approach
- Development of Environmental Performance
- Standards for 4 themes
- Air, Biodiversity, Pesticides and Water
- Standards are
- practical and consistent science-based benchmarks
to help guide the design of farm practices in
achieving desired environmental outcomes - not intended as regulatory instruments
9NAESI Approach Definitions
- Performance Standards definition (EC)
- Establish the degree of desired environmental
quality of air, water , biodiversity and soil in
agricultural areas - Quantitative or qualitative measures (benchmarks)
of desired environmental performance - Defined in terms of
- ideal maximum concentration of toxic substances
- specified condition of the environment
- as habitat standards (biodiversity)
10NAESI Approach Definitions
- Process Standard definition (AAFC)
- Recommended production methodologies to reduce
negative environmental impacts - Can be defined in terms of farming practices or
maintenance of habitat or species - Also known as Beneficial Management Practices
11NAESI Approach
- Scoping year key priorities(2004-2005)
- Identify and assess key agriculture pressures and
high risk sectors to determine priorities - Assess and evaluate existing standards/guidelines,
certification systems, etc - Review and/or develop methodologies
- Demonstrate early action in key areas through
pilot projects - Integration with Environment Chapter programs
- Standard development (2005-2008)
- Testing assessment validation implementation
12Environmental quality objectives/goals
- Air
- Achievable standards that reduce farm
contribution to - Airborne particulate matter
- Greenhouse gases
- Odour
- Biodiversity
- Quality quantity of habitat that actually
produces aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. - Reduce the negative effects of agricultural
practices on nature, and of nature on
agriculture.
13Environmental quality objectives/goals
- Water
- Environmental performance standards for
- Pathogens
- Nutrients
- Water conservation
- Instream flow needs
- Sediment influx
-
- Pesticides
- Reduce the risk of pesticide impact through the
use of reduced risk pesticides - Change in behaviour from a reliance on pesticides
to Integrated Pest Management
14NAESI Approach - Linkages
- Linkages with other APF environment Chapter
Programs - Standards and Indicators
- National Agri-Environmental Health and Reporting
Program - Water Quality Surveillance Program (pathogens)
- Standards and Stewardship initiatives
- Environmental Farm Plans
- Beneficial management practices
- Environmental Farm Scans
- Certification
15NAESI Approach
- Standards and Information tools
- National land and Water Information Service
- Environmental Technology Assessment for
Agriculture
16NAESI outcomes
- Environment quality objectives are achieved via
Environmental Performance Standards (benchmarks)
for air, biodiversity, pesticides, soil and water
- Provide tools and techniques to relate
Performance Standards to Process Standards (BMPs)
linkage with EFPs - Standards to assist farmers in enhancing their
environmental performance and to report
environmental performance against -
- ECs priorities will be integrated within the
suite of APF Environment Chapter programs - Farming community one step closer to achieving
Sustainable agriculture and Environmental farm
certification