Following the European Union and the United States, Canada will also subsidize agriculture for retaining carbon in fields and reducing CO2 air pollution. Canadian Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau launched the On-Farm Climate Action Fund of 200 million dollars.
Over the next two years, the $200 million fund will provide direct support to ‘carbon farmers’ for biodiversity protection and improved nitrogen management. Not only agricultural and dairy cooperatives, but also consumer groups can submit proposals to the new fund.
According to the Canadian government, this year's weather conditions have demonstrated the extraordinary challenges facing Canadian agriculture. Extreme weather conditions are expected to become more severe and costly for the agricultural sector in the coming decades.
The activities supported by the new fund are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 2 million tons in the near future.
Canadian farmers can now apply for subsidies to plant cover crops, such as clover and alfalfa, on their fields. Subsidies will also be available for equipment modifications to apply fertilizers on fields, as well as soil sampling and analysis.
Canadian farmers can also receive financial compensation if they practice rotational grazing or other forms of soil improvement.
Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Johnathan Wilkinson stated that the fight against climate change is not only about reducing emissions but also about behavioral change. Given the importance of the agriculture and agri-food sector, it is clear that more ambitious actions are needed, according to the Canadian government.