Initiative
On November 1-2, 2017 the second National Environmental Farm Plan Summit was held in Ottawa. Over 100 participants attended, representing commodity groups, extension services, practitioners, and research associations from each province. The Summit kicked off with a gala event sponsored by Alberta Barley’s Combine to Craft initiative, where participants got to sample a craft beer from coast to coast to coast.
Day 2 was a full day packed with information and engagement. The 4 committees established in 2016, (1) Standards Committee, (2) Data Committee, (3) Verification Committee, and (4) Communications Committee, provided updates on their progress over the past year, and requested input from the group.
The NEFP aims to harmonize EFPs across Canada and continue to build national credibility in the agricultural community and international markets. The NEFP is navigating the sustainable sourcing realm to find EFP’s place using an outcome-based, producer-driven national standard while engaging stakeholders at each level of the supply chain.
On November 16, 2017 ARECA hosted an NEFP Update meeting in Edmonton to discuss the outcomes and direction of the NEFP and what this means for Alberta. Discussion centered around the need to enhance collaboration on impending sustainable sourcing requirements using EFP as a framework for planning. Priorities identified include (1) highlighting the environmental stewardship that already exists within the Alberta agriculture community, (2) demonstrating continuous improvement, (3) maintaining and building public trust, and (4) protecting soil health, water quality, air quality, and biodiversity.
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