International Launch of the first ever climate change protocol rewarding
farmers for good practices in Canada

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 8 /CNW/ - An innovative new approach for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farm fertilizer use has been approved by the Canadian province of Alberta for use in its offset system, an international meeting was told.

"The Nitrous Oxide Emission Reduction Protocol, or NERP, has been accepted after three years of development and consultation with farmers, soil scientists and government officials," said Clyde Graham, Vice President, Strategy and Alliances, of the Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI), while speaking at a side-event organized by the Farming First coalition at the Global Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change.

The Nitrous Oxide Emission Reduction Protocol (NERP) is designed to reduce on-farm emissions of nitrous oxide in a quantifiable, credible and verifiable way that would allow farmers to earn carbon credits.

NERP is a good example of public and private sectors working together to assist farmers to implement Best (Beneficial) Management Practices on-farm as well as reduce overall GHG emissions. Initiated by CFI, NERP is the result of a collaborative partnership that includes the Alberta government, Climate Change Central, ClimateCHECK Corporation and the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI).

NERP is based on applying fertilizer using Best Management Practices customized into a 4R nutrient stewardship plan. The 4R nutrient stewardship system is applying the Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place®. By establishing three levels of nitrogen stewardship plans (basic, intermediate and advanced performance), NERP addresses the pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.

Alberta is the first Canadian province to approve the use of NERP in its regulatory carbon marketplace. But the potential does not end there. NERP was developed in Canada but was designed to be flexible enough to be used anywhere in the world, customized with region-specific science, to reduce emissions and provide an opportunity for the agricultural community to become involved by earning offset credits.

"We will be promoting the NERP in our industry to encourage other countries to take on such innovative offset project as it proves that agricultural productivity and climate change can be addressed simultaneously," said Morgane Danielou from the International Fertilizer Industry Association.

Also attending the conference were representatives from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), Canada's largest general farmers' organization, which has expressed support for NERP. "This initiative provides Alberta farmers with another opportunity to capitalize on their good management practices to produce carbon offset credits. We look forward to other provinces adopting the NERP in their future offset systems," said Don McCabe, Co-Chair of the CFA Environment and Science Committee.

Introducing a comprehensive strategy to minimize the accumulation of nitrate in agricultural soils is the right thing to do. For more information about NERP and other initiatives to help reduce Greenhouse Gases, please visit http://carbonoffsetsolutions.climatechangecentral.com/ or http://www.cfi.ca.

Backgrounder

The benefits of NERP

For farmers
If they meet the criteria outlined in NERP they could qualify for an offset credit up to $12 per hectare (up to $5 per acre). They would also be improving the economics of their farm while doing the right thing in reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions.

For industry
Once implemented, NERP would be a source of creditable and secure offset credits. These, of course, could be purchased or traded in the growing carbon marketplace.

For government
In the Kyoto protocol, 37 developed countries pledged to limit or reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions five per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. A tool like NERP could help governments meet their Kyoto commitments.

For environmental groups
The opportunity to partner with the agricultural community to work towards the same goal - reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions, responsibly.

For researchers
NERP is a science-based transformational tool. Aside from providing all other stakeholders with a solution to their needs, NERP also creates opportunities for researchers to advance nitrous oxide science.

Reference points

Nitrous Oxide (N₂0) - A natural atmospheric gas that comes primarily from the oceans and soils, tropical in particular. Fertilizer use is estimated to induce 25-35 per cent of cropland emissions.

Offset credit -Also called a carbon credit, it's a reduction or removal of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from a project which features either new management practices, technology and/or control systems. Credits can be purchased or traded.

NERP - Nitrous Oxide Emission Reduction Protocol, a proposed system to help reduce on-farm emissions of nitrous oxide. Developed in Canada, this could have global impact on both agricultural best management practices and the carbon offset market.

Climate Change Central - a non-profit organization that empowers Albertans to take action on climate change through consumer rebate programs, demonstration projects, educational outreach, and the development and facilitation of a provincial carbon market, the first in Canada.

CFI - The Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI) is an industry association that represents manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers. CFI's mission includes promoting the responsible, sustainable and safe production, distribution and use of fertilizers.

IPNI - The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) is a global not-for-profit, science-based organization with a focus on agronomic education and research support. Its mission is to develop and promote scientific information about the responsible management of plant nutrition for the benefit of the human family. http://www.ipni.net/

IFA - The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) is a trade association representing the global fertilizer industry. IFA member companies represent all activities related to the production and distribution of every type of fertilizer, their raw materials and intermediates. IFA's membership also includes organizations involved in agronomic research and training. IFA has some 525 members in about 85 countries. The global fertilizer industry produces some 170 million tons of fertilizer nutrients annually. These are used in every corner of the globe to support sustainable agricultural production and food security http://www.fertilizer.org/

For further information:

Media Contact:
Catherine King: 613-786-3026
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