North American dairy production is reducing its impact on the climate while maximizing production through genetics, technology and data-driven decisions. That’s the conclusion of a recent report, ‘The Environmental Benefits of Modern Dairy, Hay, and Forage Production Technologies’, which was unveiled at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, during an industry expert panel discussion […] Read more
Tag Archives sustainability — page 7
Dairy industry makes strides in sustainability and GHG mitigation
Advances and adoption of new technologies show positive impact, according to new report
Study highlights economic impact and funding shortfall of RMP/SDRM programs
Study results come at an important time as farm sectors struggle with inflation
The Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) has released results of a new study examining the economic impact that Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) and Self-Directed Risk Management Program (SDRM) have on Ontario farms, farm production and the broader Ontario economy. Highlights of the study include: Every dollar spent on RMP/SDRM leads to $2.01 – $3.60 […] Read more
Editorial: Sustainability shouldn’t be an optical illusion
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, one our freelance writers, Rebecca Hannam, brought to my attention an interesting press release from the University of Guelph on how its on-campus child care centre has reduced its carbon footprint by switching to only feeding a plant-based diet. She asked in her email to me “why is no one talking […] Read more
Dairy sustainability lead has high hopes for 2050 emission goals
New DFC recruit previously worked with Canadian Cattle Association
Fawn Jackson recalls a message she heard from forestry and fishery stakeholders when she moved into her previous role as executive director of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. “Get ahead of it, or else you’ll end up struggling to catch up from behind.” Why it matters: On-farm practices developed to meet DFC’s goals may […] Read more
U.N.-backed investors set fresh targets in sustainable food shift
Reuters – A U.N.-backed group of global financial institutions including Dutch lender Rabobank on Thursday set out a series of company specific environmental and social targets aimed at helping drive a shift to a more sustainable food system. Set by a group of 11 firms in the Good Food Finance Network, including Nuveen Natural Capital […] Read more
Wool producers rebel over clothing sustainability claims
International wool organizations fight to ensure consumers aren’t fleeced by false sustainability claims
Canadian wool organizations support an international campaign that challenges the European Council’s methods of calculating Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). “Europe has a lot of the big fashion labels; they’re the ones that set the trend,” said Jane Underhill from Campaign for Wool. “I think that their investment in Europe is significant and that influences decision-making […] Read more
Soil quality critical to help crops weather heat stress
Science Notes: Study analyzed 30 years of data on four major crops
The capacity of soil to hold water will be critical to determine how well farms in some regions of the United States manage prolonged heat stress due to climate change, a new study suggests. The journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems published the finding, based on analyses of 30 years of data on four major crops — […] Read more
Accelerator supports companies in advancing sustainable innovation
Programming and commercialization services are available to eligible enterprises
Bioenterprise Canada helps Canadian start-ups and companies in the agri-food sector with sustainable innovation efforts. The Guelph-based national accelerator known as Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine recently unveiled its new sustainability initiative designed to support Canada’s drive to be a leader in food sustainability and security. At the same time, Aramark, Bayer, BASF, MNP and […] Read more
Building sustainability throughout the food chain
Companies discuss the importance of ensuring producers are part of the sustainability solution
The agri-food sector is under increased pressure to prove sustainable production practices from the farm to the corporate level. For the first time, sustainability and environmental concerns made the top five consumer issues in the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity’s 2021 Public Trust research publication. Sustainability is becoming part of value systems. Still, it’s difficult […] Read more
Farming for the climate
U.S. growers embrace cover crops while eyeing low-carbon future
Illinois farmer Jack McCormick planted 350 acres of barley and radishes last fall as part of an off-season crop that he does not intend to harvest. Instead, the crops will be killed with a herbicide before McCormick plants soybeans in the same soil. The barley and radishes will not be used for food, but Bayer […] Read more
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