Canada becomes a founding member of the Efficient Fertilizer Consortium

Canada will become a founding member of the Efficient Fertilizer Consortium (EFC). The EFC is a public-private partnership that funds research to advance enhanced efficiency and novel fertilizer products and practices that help farmers produce crops while reducing environmental impacts.

This partnership, created by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, represents a commitment of approximately $1.3 million over four years from the Government of Canada.

As a founding member of the Consortium, Canada will influence the strategic direction and research of the EFC. Canada joins 11 other committed members, including the USA; the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; and other international governments, fertilizer companies, crop groups and foundations.

There are many innovative fertilizer products currently available to land managers. However, more research is needed to better understand their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potential and their impact on crop yield in different climates, soil types and management practices.

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lawrence MacAulay, says by joining the EFC, Canada is ensuring producers are well-equipped to make informed decisions that are good for the environment and their bottom line.

“International collaboration is vitally important to addressing global food security and putting healthy and affordable food on tables right across Canada,” say MacAulay.

Canada will work with international scientists and key agriculture stakeholders including fertilizer companies to conduct this research and ensure its relevance to Canadian agriculture. The EFC will fund research to generate data and evidence on how fertilizers perform both in their support of healthy food crops, and their promise to reduce the GHG emissions and other environmental impacts. 

According to the federal government, joining the EFC supports the commitment to reduce GHG emissions in Canada arising from the application of fertilizers by 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030. It also builds on the commitment of over $1.5 billion to accelerate the agricultural sector’s progress on reducing emissions, while remaining a global leader in sustainable agriculture. It will also support the development and implementation of the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy.