Green Party Federal Agriculture Policy

Rural people are at the forefront of climate change. But often they are isolated from the decision-making that impacts their environment and their options for adapting. The Green Party aims to bring the adaptation process into the power of rural people by strengthening their participation in research, innovation, and implementation. There are ways to reduce Green House Gas emissions while strengthening the real incomes and quality of life of rural people.

Because of the multiple benefits of ecologically sound farming methods, including a big reduction in GHG emissions, Green Party MPs will work to assist farmers who wish to transition to more ecologically sound practices to make the switch. Local food production will be encouraged in order to reduce emissions from transport.

Livestock production is currently a major contributor to non-carbon dioxide GHG emissions. Of the GHG emissions generated from agriculture, 43% comes from dairy and beef herds emitting methane; 40% from poor soil fertilization practices releasing N2O; 15% from poor manure management from penned livestock herds; and 2% from other sources.

Green Party MPs will promote the use of manure and farm waste to build soil nutrition and organic content. We will pay farmers for carbon sequestration in soils within a domestic carbon market. This will promote no-till agriculture practices which will in turn slow and reverse the process of soil depletion. We will plan for transition to 100% ecologically sound farming.

Urban agriculture will be encouraged to provide more local food, including more green roofs, reducing air conditioning demand and run-off in deluge rains.