Canada’s Chief Science Advisor Wasn’t Consulted on Fertilizer Reduction Targets, MPs Hear

Spring wheat is harvested on a farm near Beausejour, Manitoba, on Aug. 20, 2020. Shannon VanRaes/Reuters

Canada’s chief science advisor was never consulted by the federal government on its voluntary 30 percent fertilizer emissions reduction target to determine if the policy will impact food production in the country, a parliamentary committee heard.

Mona Nemer appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research on Feb. 2, where she was asked about the frequency of her consultations with the federal government regarding policy decisions.

Conservative MP Dan Mazier asked Nemer if the Liberal government had requested she “produce any scientific reports or advice on the impact that reducing fertilizer emissions by 30 percent would have on Canada’s food production.”

“The short answer is no, not on that particular topic,” Nemer replied.

Mazier was referring to the federal government’s voluntary national nitrogen fertilizer emissions reduction target of 30 percent below 2020 levels, which is part of its latest climate plan “A Healthy Environment and A Healthy Economy.”

Ottawa hopes to achieve the 30 percent reduction by 2030, by which year it also hopes to have lowered total national greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45 percent.

The federal government has maintained that taking steps to achieve the targets will remain voluntary.

Mazier asked Nemer if she had “personally seen” any scientific studies or reports suggesting that the fertilizer emissions reduction target could be met by 2030 without decreasing food production.

“I have not,” Nemer said.

“You have not seen any science on that?” Mazier said.

“Well, I haven’t seen any report on that,” she said.

Fertilizer Emissions

Nemer earlier in her testimony said she believes Canada needs to change its behaviour “in terms of food wastage” and noted many advances have already been made to reduce the amount of fertilizer farmers need.

“There are great areas of potential innovation in terms of agriculture, precision agriculture, that we can reap all the benefits of the genomic revolution and even traditional knowledge,” she said.

“I think that science can support us in incredible ways in this,” she added.

The federal Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) previously said Ottawa hopes to meet the emissions reduction target in seven years without establishing “a mandatory reduction in fertilizer use.”

“It is intended to be achieved while maintaining or improving yields,” the AAFC told The Epoch Times in August 2022. “The goal is to maximize efficiency, optimize fertilizer use, encourage innovation, and to work collaboratively with the agriculture sector.”