Profile Of Production Trends And Environmental Issues In Canada S Agriculture And Agri Food Sector

This document provides an assessment of the economics and production of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector, examining the primary production of plant and animal commodities, the food and beverage processing industry, and changes in agricultural land use. It also gives a detailed profile of the environmental issues pertinent to the sector, examining issues such as water quality and use, agricultural inputs, and land. Examples of ways to address these issues are also identified. The assessment focuses on the environmental impacts and risks from agricultural and agri-food production. Trends in the sector are analyzed for 1971-1991, with updates from 1991 provided where possible. The document concludes with an qualitative environmental outlook for the sector on a regional basis.

The strategy presented in this paper is intended to provide decision makers in the agriculture and agri-food sector with useful tools and information to help make the sector's environmental performance a factor that enhances its growth prospects rather than limits them. The strategy follows four directions: improving the capacity of decision makers to integrate environmental considerations in daily management on a proactive basis; promotion of stewardship and sustainable use of the environment and agricultural resource base; focusing of research, development, and technology transfer to address environmental challenges and foster sustainability in the sector; and encouragement of marketing and trade that promote environmental quality and sustainability. For each strategic direction, priorities for action are described. Includes glossary and a profile of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada.

This is the second report on national agro-environmental indicators, with the objective of providing information on the extent to which the agri-food sector uses environmentally sound practices, on the changes in environmental conditions & trends in agriculture over time, and on the areas & resources that are at significant environmental risk. Section A gives background on this study, including the concepts & methods used and the driving forces that affect environmental & other trends in agriculture. The next sections present & discuss the agro-environmental indicators related to farm management, soil quality, water quality, air quality, agro-ecosystem biodiversity, and eco-efficiency in the food & beverage industry. For each indicator, information is included on the environmental issue related to the indicator, the indicator & its method of calculation, its limitations, results of estimating the indicator for Canada, interpretations of the significance of those results, and response options. The final section summarizes the indicator findings on a regional basis, presents overall conclusions, and suggests ways in which the report can be used. A glossary is appended.

Agricultural decision makers at all levels require good quality information to address complex economic and environmental issues. In response, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has developed a set of science-based agri-environmental indicators that integrate information on soils, climate and topography with statistics on land use and crop and livestock management practices. The indicators provide valuable information on the overall environmental risks and conditions in agriculture and how these change over time. The indices are presented here to draw broad, national-level observations on the status and trends of agrienvironmental sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector. The regional variations are more explicitly discussed in the body of the report. This publication can be used as a report card of agri-environmental performance for producers, consumers and the international community and can be used to highlight areas where further efforts are required. It can also provide valuable information that decision makers can draw from when developing and evaluating agricultural policy.--Document.

The Canadian Farming Community is facing numerous ongoing challenges, including rapidly changing technologies, the gradual erosion of the rural lifestyle, growing consumer concerns about the healthiness of food, and growing environmental concerns (including climate change). This book begins with an historic overview of agriculture in Canada, followed by a statistical profile of the contemporary Canadian farm/ranch, supporting agri-industrial complex, and the innumerable farm organizations in Canada. The vital role of international trade and government support in the evolution of Canadian agriculture is also highlighted. Resource management issues and related “hot button” issues (e.g. climate change, GMO’s) are also addressed in considerable detail. In addition, Dr. Anderson identifies the likely trends in Canadian agriculture in the immediate years ahead. Emphasizing the diversity, complexity, strength and vitality of the agricultural sector, Canadian Agriculture in the 21st Century ultimately highlights how it effectively molds and remains integral to the socioeconomic fabric of both rural and urban Canada. An underlying theme is the importance of having Canadian agriculture become increasingly ecofriendly in the challenging years ahead, particularly the need to gradually adopt more sustainable, regenerative (organic) technologies and the need to more pro-actively serve as a vital CO2 sink in climate change mitigation. Dr. Anderson also suggests that the public should financially compensate farmers/ ranchers for protecting environmental amenities that accrue to everyone. A complimentary theme is the need for Canadian agriculture to become increasingly sensitive to consumer concerns, particularly with respect to rigorous health standards, animal welfare, and sustainable resource management.

This document is intended to continue to move the sector towards environmental sustainability. A strategic approach to the environmental challenges confronting the sector is suggested. This approach is based on the fact that challenges vary from region to region, with the solutions generally found at the local level. Lastly, recommendations are listed for the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Agriculture. These recommendations provide a basis for future activities addressing environmental sustainability.

Using a variety of research findings and case studies, this publication provides a broad picture of water quality and quantity in Canada as they are affected by agriculture and as they affect agriculture itself. The first part contains background on the water cycle, water supplies in Canada, agriculture & other rural uses of water, and issues related to water quality. The second part describes what is currently known about the health of Canada's rural surface water and groundwater, and the implications for natural ecosystems. The third part describes responses to the various issues of water quality & quantity, citing farming practices and regulatory tools, among other measures. The final part discusses how the growth of agriculture may be limited by issues related to water and how the future might proceed. Includes glossary.