Farmers promote environmental initiatives
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2003
(ACROSS CANADA) - June 1-7 is Environment Week in Canada, and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is marking the event by highlighting the contributions and achievements of Canadian producers in making Canada, and the world, a better place in which to live.
"Canadian farmers are leaders in sustainable agricultural practices. Canadian farmers have a history of being proactive in developing and adopting techniques to benefit the Canadian environment," said Bob Friesen, CFA President.
Every province in Canada is currently working on implementing on-farm environmental programs. These programs are voluntary initiatives where producers analyze their own operations and implement measures to reduce their environmental impact. In Ontario alone over 23,000 producers have attended an Environmental Farm Plan workshop and over 10,000 have accessed funding to complete an on-farm action. In Quebec there are 79 Agri-Environment Advisory Clubs with 5,623 members. In Saskatchewan, 39 per cent of cultivated land is managed using zero-till practices.
"This is a real grassroots approach to environmental improvement," said Bob Friesen, CFA President. "Producers are not doing this because of regulations, they are choosing to participate in voluntary environmental initiatives because they believe it is the right thing to do."
The modern Canadian producer has a strong awareness of the environmental impacts of agricultural operations - from water quality issues to soil conservation to reduction of greenhouse gasses. A recent government study found 85 per cent of producers believe the government should work with industry to reduce greenhouse gasses. CFA has been an active partner in the national Climate Change Action Fund Agriculture Awareness Program, which strives to promote environmental best management practices to producers.
"Canadian farmers are working every day to meet and exceed the expectations of Canadian consumers when it comes to producing our food in the most environmentally sensitive ways possible," said Friesen. "I encourage all Canadians to find out more about Canadian agriculture and how it is making our world a better place."
For more information about CFA environmental policies, visit: http://cfa-fca.ca/policy/environment-science
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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.
Contact:
Kieran Green, CFA Communications Coordinator, (613) 236-3633, info@cfafca.ca
Bob Friesen, CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)
Brigid Rivoire, CFA Executive Director, (613) 236-3633 / (613) 715-3113 (cell)
