OTTAWA, ON – Canadian agri-retailers and their accredited professional staff play
an integral role in supporting growers to achieve productivity goals for safe and
nutritious food. With sustainability and environmental stewardship also at the
forefront of conversation, growers across Canada are turning to their agri-retailers for
ways to reduce their impacts while maintaining yields and profitability.
With the launch of Fertilizer Canada’s new 4R Designation toolkit, it is now easier
than ever for agri-retailers to provide advice on the gold-standard for sustainable
agriculture by aligning their businesses with the principles of 4R Nutrient
Stewardship – a globally recognized, Canadian-made program that encourages
growers to use the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, right time and in the right
place.
4R Designation is a voluntary program created by Fertilizer Canada that allows agriretailers
and their grower customers to solidify their commitment to sustainable
agriculture through 4R Nutrient Stewardship. Becoming 4R Designated takes just
four steps:
1. Education: Certified Crop Advisors take Fertilizer Canada’s 4R Nutrient
Stewardship Training through our eLearning platform
2. 4R Attestation: Formalize the commitment to 4R Nutrient Stewardship by
submitting the 4R Designation Attestation form included in the toolkit
3. Speaking to Your Grower Customer: Use the forms and guidance included
in the toolkit to help advise clients on 4R Nutrient Stewardship best practices
and create tailor-made 4R Nutrient Management Plans
4. Get Your Acres Counted: Report acres advised under 4R Nutrient
Stewardship to Fertilizer Canada
Fertilizer Canada offers the program as a better measure of performance to address
economic, environmental and social considerations. Further, food companies and
sustainable supply chain initiatives recognize the value of the 4R Nutrient
Stewardship framework to assist growers in accessing new markets for their
products and realize the vision of moving from the world’s fifth to its second largest
agriculture exporter.
“4R Nutrient Stewardship is quickly gaining recognition with decision makers,
agriculture groups and growers as the gold-standard for on-farm nutrient
management,” said Garth Whyte, President & CEO of Fertilizer Canada. “In 2016, 56
per cent of farmers surveyed said they rely on their agri-retailer to provide advice on
the 4Rs. Getting agri-retailers 4R Designated is the first step in expanding the reach
of sustainable agriculture in Canada.”
By aligning their businesses with 4R Nutrient Stewardship and by becoming 4R
Designated, agri-retailers are also helping to quantify the advancement of
sustainable agriculture in Canada. Acres advised by 4R Designated retailers are
counted toward Fertilizer Canada’s goal of capturing 20 million acres under 4R
Nutrient Stewardship by 2020.
“Capturing 20 million acres across Canada under 4R Nutrient Stewardship
represents one quarter of our farmland being managed sustainably,” Whyte said. “By
reaching this goal, we will ensure Canada remains a leader in on-farm environmental
stewardship.”
For more information, or to find out how to become 4R Designated, visit
fertilizercanada.ca/nutrient-stewardship/4r-designation.
Source : Fertilizer Canada