Gov didn’t consult with farmers on fertilizer emission target: Auditor General

May 08, 2024

In a scathing review, the Auditor General has condemned the federal government for its handling of emission reduction efforts within the agriculture sector, citing mismanagement and a lack of transparency.

The report, titled “Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation,” focused on programs overseen by Agri-Food Canada, with particular scrutiny on the government’s voluntary 2030 target for farmers to decrease fertilizer emissions by 30%.

According to the Auditor General, one of the primary issues highlighted was the absence of consultation with stakeholders, including farmers and industry associations, before establishing the fertilizer emission reduction target.

This oversight led to confusion among sector stakeholders, with some interpreting the target as a mandate to reduce fertilizer usage by 30%, rather than a reduction in emissions through improved application techniques.

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Video: Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Pairwise has built its business around an idea that runs counter to how many companies approach innovation: make transformative technology easier to access.

In this Seed World interview, CEO Tom Adams discusses why broader access to gene editing could speed crop improvement, expand innovation opportunities and help agriculture address emerging challenges. He explains why Pairwise believes no single company can solve all of agriculture's problems alone—and why making advanced breeding technologies available to more organizations could accelerate progress across the industry.

The conversation explores how consumer trust influences technology adoption, why innovations like pitless cherries and seedless blackberries matter beyond convenience, and how future crop improvements could help address labor shortages, automation, harvest efficiency and other production challenges. Adams also shares his perspective on what the industry may be underestimating about the next wave of gene editing innovation.

Watch the full interview to hear why Pairwise believes agriculture is approaching an important inflection point for gene editing, and why the pace of innovation over the next decade could surprise the industry.

Topics Covered:

o Democratizing agricultural innovation

o Consumer trust and technology adoption

o The business case for sharing innovation

o Expanding innovation beyond major crops

o Next-generation breeding technologies