About the EFP

Alberta EFP is responsible for the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program across the province. We work with Alberta producers and the industry groups that represent them to create awareness of the designation and its benefits, and to encourage producers to complete an EFP workbook.

Our work includes:

Creating awareness and interest through a variety of marketing communications initiatives
Providing information about the program to a wide variety of audiences
Developing and updating materials such as the EFP workbook, website and how-to videos
Linking new registrants with one of our 40+ EFP technicians across the province for individual coaching and advice
Encouraging agricultural education programs to include EFP education and experience in their curriculum
Creating and strengthening partnerships with the ag industry and all three orders of government
Working with the ag industry and our EFP counterparts across Canada to develop national standards that will meet or surpass international standards
Maintaining high integrity privacy and data management standards – see our Privacy Policy
Alberta EFP’s work is guided by a Stakeholder Advisory Committee, delivered by regional ag reps, and supported by municipal, provincial and federal government.

VISION

Alberta EFP is preparing for a future where the majority of commodities are sustainably sourced. Consumers and the agri-food industry are demanding proof that agricultural products are safe and healthy, and grown with minimal impact on the environment. We will achieve that by working with industry, sustainable sourcing initiatives, and other EFP programs to create national standards, reduce overlap and to streamline the EFP as much possible, while retaining its integrity.

PROGRAM MISSION

Alberta EFP strives to develop and deliver an EFP program that meets or surpasses international standards. Our goal is to help Alberta agricultural producers demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship by completing an EFP. We will achieve this by sharing information, collaborating with industry, and providing services of the highest quality and consistency delivered by committed and trained technicians.

The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program in Alberta was established in the early 2000s by the Government of Alberta in partnership with agricultural producer groups as a voluntary, producer-led initiative to identify and manage environmental risks on agricultural operations. It was developed with support from the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and was adapted from the Ontario EFP Workbook. The original EFP concept originated from Wisconsin’s Farm A Syst program.

During its first six years, program delivery was contracted to the Environmental Farm Plan Company. In 2009, responsibility for the program returned to the Government of Alberta. Since 2013, the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) has administered and delivered the program on behalf of the province, ensuring its continued relevance to modern agriculture, regulatory expectations, and sustainability initiatives.

The EFP has become widely integrated across agricultural sectors and programs. In 2014, the Potato Growers of Alberta became the first agricultural organization to require an EFP as a condition of membership. Collaborative adaptations, such as the Poultry Environmental Evaluation Program (PEEP) were later developed with the Egg Producers of Alberta. In 2021, Dairy Farmers of Canada mandated EFP completion under the environmental module of the proAction® program. EFP completion is also required or recognized for participation in programs including AgriInvest, Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) funding, select ALUS initiatives, and is recommended under programs such as Verified Beef+.

To support market access and sustainability verification, Alberta EFP introduced EFP+, an enhanced assessment aligned with the internationally recognized framework, the Sustainable Agricultural Initiative Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA). Organizations including Rahr Malting and the Alberta Sugar Beet Growers have adopted EFP+ to demonstrate verified sustainability outcomes.

The EFP program is also embedded in agricultural education across the province. Lakeland College, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, and Lethbridge Polytechnic actively support the use of the EFP and include EFP training within their agricultural programs, reinforcing environmental stewardship among future producers.

As of 2025, approximately 33% of Alberta’s agricultural land is covered by an approved EFP, underscoring the program’s broad adoption and its role as a cornerstone of environmental risk management, sustainability assurance, and market readiness for Alberta agriculture.