Statement from Karen Proud, President and CEO, Fertilizer Canada
Fertilizer Canada welcomes the report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, Feeding The World: Strengthening Canada’s Capacity To Respond To Global Food Insecurity. The recommendations support Canada’s agriculture sector and the important role we play in global food security. Fertilizer Canada participated in the study, and we’re pleased to see our recommendations on nutrient management, support for Canadian fertilizer manufacturing, and the need to strengthen supply chains reflected in the report.
The Canadian fertilizer industry is a highly export-driven industry and is a world leader in sustainable fertilizer manufacturing. We are encouraged to see the report’s recommendation to explore opportunities to increase domestic fertilizer production. Canada’s fertilizer industry is one of our country’s most Energy Intensive Trade Exposed (EITE) industries and it is critical that the government’s policies accurately reflect the environmental impact and global competitiveness of our sector to support continued investments.
We applaud the all-party recognition of 4R Nutrient Stewardship and the recognition of Canadian farmers for being world leaders in the efficient use of fertilizer by utilizing 4Rs. We strongly support the recommendation that the government keep emission targets voluntary to protect food security while incentivizing adopting of 4R practices. As well, we support the recommendation to fund research and development to further innovation in the application of fertilizer.
The report also highlights the importance of strong, reliable supply chains for the success of Canada’s agriculture sector. We support the call to immediately implement the recommendations contained in the Final Report of the National Supply Chain Task Force, encourage investment in the rail system, and update port infrastructure.
We look forward to continuing to work with the government to implement the committee’s recommendations to strengthen Canada’s agriculture sector and fight global food insecurity.