Grain Growers of Canada has announced a “Road to 2050″ initiative aimed at helping the Canadian government work toward its commitment of net-zero emissions by 2050.
“The ‘Road to 2050’ will propose a path forward that focuses on innovation, research and beneficial management practices. This will boost productivity while continuing to enhance soil quality, improving the carbon sequestration potential of crop land and reducing emissions. This decision represents a practical and proactive approach to tackling climate change,” says GGC chair and Alberta farmer Andre Harpe.
In addition to identifying opportunities for the grain farming sector to continue to contribute to emission reductions, GGC says the plan is “intended to guide government policies and programming directed at Canada’s grains sector, ensuring farmers are supported in their efforts.”
The first steps in the plan include finding potential partners and the establishment of a scientific advisory committee, explains Branden Leslie, GGC’s manager of policy and government relations, in the interview below.
“This is the first step. This is about acknowledging governments are heading this direction and we need to be there,” says Leslie, noting the funding for the initiative will come from Grain Growers’ members and industry partners.
The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission has already signed on as a partner. (GGC has 14 provincial, regional, and national crop producer organizations as members — SaskWheat is not one of them.)
The announcement of the “Road to 2050” kicked off the Grain Growers’ advocacy week taking place this week in Ottawa. “We are so excited after two long years to be back in-person,” notes Leslie.
The federal government’s net-zero commitment will be in the spotlight this week as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce the government’s 2030 emissions reduction plan in Vancouver on Tuesday. The report is required under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act that was passed by Parliament last year.
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