The Liberals' 30% fertilizer reduction goal by 2030 is voluntary, says Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau..“There is a lot of misinformation going on right now,” said Bibeau..“I just wanted to reiterate we’re really talking about reducing emissions caused by fertilizer. We’re not talking about having any intention of limiting the use of fertilizer itself. The idea is to use them in the most sustainable way possible.”.The 30% reduction is not a mandate but a voluntary target, according to Bibeau..Bibeau said Conservatives and others portrayed the reduction as a ban..“It’s not true. We have always said that this is a voluntary target,” said Bibeau. .“We want to be ambitious because we have to move the needle. If we send the message that business as usual is good enough, it’s not.”.READ MORE Confused farmers and Tories want clarity about Trudeau’s fertilizer plan.Bibeau is in “constant contact” with farm organizations and stakeholders..The federal government consulted the industry from March to August..“The way we move forward is really taking into consideration the real world in which we are living,” said Bibeau..“We want them to be sustainable, and sustainable means economically sustainable as well.”.The ministry of Agriculture invested in programs to assist farmers in reducing emissions by helping to buy better equipment and technology and the government will still help farmers move to more sustainable practices..In this year’s budget, $1.5 billion of agri-environmental spending is included..Bibeau said the federal government invested in the fertilizer sector to develop sustainable production..The two objectives of the fertilizer reduction targets are to feed the world and reduce emissions, according to Bibeau..Bibeau said the federal government picked a date for the target because without a date the reduction means nothing..“I think when we have a target, we need a date. If we don’t, the target doesn’t mean anything anymore,” said Bibeau..New research and innovations in the farming industry will add new practices and technologies to help meet the fertilizer reduction target..Bibeau praised the industry for the reductions it already made using the example of grain and dairy farmers' plan to have zero emissions by 2050.
The Liberals' 30% fertilizer reduction goal by 2030 is voluntary, says Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau..“There is a lot of misinformation going on right now,” said Bibeau..“I just wanted to reiterate we’re really talking about reducing emissions caused by fertilizer. We’re not talking about having any intention of limiting the use of fertilizer itself. The idea is to use them in the most sustainable way possible.”.The 30% reduction is not a mandate but a voluntary target, according to Bibeau..Bibeau said Conservatives and others portrayed the reduction as a ban..“It’s not true. We have always said that this is a voluntary target,” said Bibeau. .“We want to be ambitious because we have to move the needle. If we send the message that business as usual is good enough, it’s not.”.READ MORE Confused farmers and Tories want clarity about Trudeau’s fertilizer plan.Bibeau is in “constant contact” with farm organizations and stakeholders..The federal government consulted the industry from March to August..“The way we move forward is really taking into consideration the real world in which we are living,” said Bibeau..“We want them to be sustainable, and sustainable means economically sustainable as well.”.The ministry of Agriculture invested in programs to assist farmers in reducing emissions by helping to buy better equipment and technology and the government will still help farmers move to more sustainable practices..In this year’s budget, $1.5 billion of agri-environmental spending is included..Bibeau said the federal government invested in the fertilizer sector to develop sustainable production..The two objectives of the fertilizer reduction targets are to feed the world and reduce emissions, according to Bibeau..Bibeau said the federal government picked a date for the target because without a date the reduction means nothing..“I think when we have a target, we need a date. If we don’t, the target doesn’t mean anything anymore,” said Bibeau..New research and innovations in the farming industry will add new practices and technologies to help meet the fertilizer reduction target..Bibeau praised the industry for the reductions it already made using the example of grain and dairy farmers' plan to have zero emissions by 2050.
