Quick Facts
- Farmers have kept their emissions steady for 20 years while almost doubling production, resulting in a notable decrease of GHG emission intensity.
- With the proper support and investment, Canadian agriculture can become a carbon sink through new technologies and techniques.
- As stewards of the land, farmers face the brunt of climate change and are heavily invested in the fight against climate change and mitigating its impacts.
Issue Overview – Sustainable Agriculture Strategy
The Sustainable Agriculture Strategy (SAS) will help set a shared long-term direction for collective action to improve environmental performance in the sector, support farmers livelihoods and strengthen the business vitality of the Canadian agricultural industry.
Working Towards Solutions – Sustainable Agriculture Strategy
CFA co-chairs the SAS Advisory Committee to ensure that producers’ voices are at the table during development of this Strategy. CFA has been involved from the outset in co-chairing the SAS advisory committee to ensure it is pragmatic, effective and works for farmers.
Issue Overview – Greenhouse Gas Pollution Offset Program
Since its launch in 2021, the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Offset Program (GGPOP) has offered Canadian farmers a vital pathway to be recognized and financially rewarded for their environmental stewardship. By incentivizing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration, the program supports the agriculture sector in its transition to more sustainable, climate-resilient production methods. As the program continues to evolve, its success will depend on the inclusion of diverse offset protocols that reflect the full range of agriculture’s contributions to emissions reductions.
Priority areas for protocol development include:
- Enhanced soil organic carbon practices
- Afforestation of former agricultural land
- Aerobic composting
- Advanced nitrogen management
Working Towards Solutions – Greenhouse Gas Pollution Offset Program
CFA remains actively engaged in the development and implementation of GGPOP protocols, advocating for practical approaches that ensure wide accessibility across farm types, scales, and regions. CFA has emphasized the importance of scientific rigor in protocol development while ensuring administrative simplicity and cost-efficiency for farmers.
In 2023, the federal government committed $850 million in funding for carbon capture, utilization, and storage projects. This funding aims to support the adoption of offset protocols, improve measurement and verification systems, and enhance research into emerging best practices in carbon farming.
CFA will advocate for this funding to be made available to help farmers adopt offset protocols and generate new income from credits.
Issue Overview – Clean Fuel Regulations
The Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) allow Canadian farmers to generate credits through two actions:
- Undertaking projects that reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity of fossil fuels (e.g., carbon capture and storage)
- Supplying customers with low carbon intensity fuels (biofuels)
These opportunities offer a new revenue stream for producers while positioning agriculture as a key player in Canada’s clean energy future. As implementation expands, ensuring accessibility, fairness, and recognition of agriculture’s unique role remains critical.
Working Towards Solutions – Clean Fuel Regulations
CFA has worked closely with government and industry stakeholders to address concerns around the Land Use and Biodiversity (LUB) criteria, which affects how facilities can generate credits when sourcing from farms. CFA’s advocacy has focused on ensuring the verification process is practical, science-based, and does not create undue burden for producers.
In 2023, the federal government introduced enhanced funding measures, including expanded rebate programs for zero-emission vehicles and farm equipment, which now total over $400 million in targeted agricultural clean tech funding. These supports are designed to facilitate on-farm electrification and lower carbon intensity—key opportunities for generating CFR credits.
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