Canada’s plan to cut fertilizer emissions is voluntary – minister

TORONTO (ICIS)–The Canadian federal government’s target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fertilizers is voluntary, not mandatory, agricultural minister Marie Claude Bibeau said.

Bibeau was reacting to claims – raised by some politicians, farmers, and in press reports – that the target to cut emissions from fertilizers by 30% by 2030, compared with 2020 levels, would be mandatory.

Danielle Smith, a leading Conservative who is poised to become premier (governor) of Alberta province, has said the federal plan was a “direct attack” on farmers and food supplies, and that it infringed the country’s constitution.

However, Bibeau said that, with the target, the government aims to encourage the use of best practices and technologies on farms to reduce emissions.

That did not mean that farmers would be mandated to reduce their use of fertilizers, she said.

Based on government data for 2019, emissions from the use of synthetic fertilizers in Canada accounted for emissions of 12.75 megatonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent.

While many in the agriculture sector are already working to improve nutrient management and reduce emissions associated with crop production, fertilizers are responsible for a growing share of overall agricultural emissions, according to a government “discussion document” on the emissions target.

The consultation period on reducing fertilizer emissions ends on 31 August.

FERTILIZER TARIFF
In related news, farm trade groups keep urging the federal government to provide relief from a 35% tariff on imports of Russian nitrogen fertilizers.

The tariffs from 3 March, which are part of Canada’s sanctions against Russia because of the Ukraine war, have added to farmers’ costs, especially in eastern Canada, they said.

While Canada is an important global supplier of potash fertilizer and does have nitrogen fertilizer production, farmers in Quebec, Ontario, and other eastern provinces rely on imports to meet most of their nitrogen fertilizer needs.

About 660,000–680,000 tonnes/year of nitrogen fertilizer is imported to east Canada, accounting for about 85-90% of the region’s total nitrogen fertilizer use, according to farming groups.

Trade group Fertilizer Canada said to ICIS in an written statement that it is supportive of all measures that the government has taken with its allies to stop the war in Ukraine.

Regarding the tariffs on imports of Russian fertilizer, “we have been asking for further clarity” from government, the group said.

“Our members are working hard to ensure farmers in east Canada have the product they need for spring seeding,” the group added.

“Canada is a major producer of fertilizer products globally, and we need a regulatory environment that encourages investment and innovation in Canadian fertilizer manufacturing.”

Ottawa-based Fertilizer Canada represents manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and sulphur fertilizers.