The Fertilize SAFE program brings all of Fertilizer Canada’s mandatory, audited safety codes and training resources under one umbrella brand to emphasize our industry commitment to keeping employees, farmers, first responders, and the public are safe and secure. A best-in-class safety stewardship program, Fertilize SAFE unifies our efforts to educate, enable and empower those in the fertilizer supply chain. Through industry-enforced codes of practice, educational resources, and training tools, Fertilize SAFE helps define safety and security for all industry players.

The SAFE in Fertilize SAFE is an acronym that captures the program’s four pillars, Standardized Codes of Practice, Accessible Training Resources (for the entire supply chain), Focused Industry Education, and Early and Enforced Industry Adoption.

“For over ten years, Fertilizer Canada has proactively developed safety and security initiatives. Formalizing under the Fertilize SAFE brand, we can more readily communicate and deliver all-encompassing programming. By creating a visual identity and a name, we hope to further establish credibility and brand recognition in the safety and security domain,”

says Clyde Graham, Executive Vice President, Fertilizer Canada.

“Our members are incredibly diligent about safety and security, and stakeholders, government officials, and the public must recognize the proactive and comprehensive programming Fertilizer Canada offer.”

Under the new Fertilize SAFE brand, Fertilizer Canada is focused on:
• enforcing industry-leading standards and Codes of Practice
• promoting the use of best-in-class training resources
• supporting educational needs through strong e-learning programming; and
• enforcing early industry adoption

As a leading advocacy organization, Fertilizer Canada is well-positioned to support its members in advancing the safe, secure, and sustainable production and use of fertilizer through proactive, science-based programs, innovation, and advocacy. The Fertilize SAFE program is an example of Fertilizer Canada’s work on behalf of its membership to promote and enforce industry-led Codes of Practice. While simultaneously making strides in our strategic goal of achieving federal recognition of the Codes of Practice as the standard in product safety.

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Effective, science-based regulatory oversight of fertilizer and supplement products ensures the safety of the Canadian marketplace.

Garth Whyte, President & CEO of Fertilizer Canada said:

“Fertilizer Canada has worked alongside industry associations and government officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for nearly a decade to update the Fertilizers Regulations. These updates will ensure that our industry is able to provide innovative fertilizers to farmers, harmonize our processes with international jurisdictions, and continue to prioritize the safety of our consumers.”

Fertilizer Regulations were a major topic of discussion during the annual Canadian Fertilizer Products Forum (CFPF) earlier this year, hosted by the fertilizer industry and CFIA. This collaboration is essential to help develop a more effective, science-based policy that benefits not only Canada’s economic well-being but the fertilizer industry’s global competitiveness.

Throughout the pandemic, the fertilizer industry has worked to provide essential goods to Canadian farmers and has continued to be a major Canadian export. The global pandemic has shown that Canadians need to ensure food security and the necessity of industry-government partnerships.

Whyte says:

“This partnership is critical to ensuring the success of the agricultural sector at large and will not only provide Canada with an economic boost but improve the competitiveness of our exports. We would once again like to thank Minister Bibeau and Deputy Minister Chris Forbes from AAFC, as well as Siddika Mithani, President at CFIA, for their continued collaboration with Canada’s fertilizer industry.”

We look forward to the continued collaboration between both industry and government to meet and develop competitive policies that will enable our industry to operate successfully and efficiently for years to come.

Source: Fertilizer Canada

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Fertilizer Canada’s Board of Directors recently approved the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, which is the result of a widespread consulting process that included meetings with the Board of Directors, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, Issue Committees, and staff meetings. It sets a new strategic direction for Fertilizer Canada for the coming five years, with a focus on delivering exceptional member value.

Fertilizer Canada is ready to meet the challenges in the future. We are well-positioned to support our members through 2025, to advance the safe, secure, and sustainable production and use of fertilizer, through proactive science-based programs, innovation, and advocacy. Members will continue to be our central focus as we build out our ‘Pillars of Success’ in Stewardship, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Advocacy and Communications, and Organizational Excellence.

We look forward to working with our members and committees to deliver our strategic objectives over the course of the next 5 years.

Source: Fertilizer Canada

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Fertilizer Canada, along with The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and The Nature Conservancy, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining their commitment to the continued development and expansion of the North American 4R Certification Program. The Global NSCC will create consistency amongst geographies, maintain program rigour, and ensure core auditable requirements are represented in each geographies’ standards. The partnership will also provide guidance to new entities interested in developing programs in their geographies.

Garth Whyte, President & CEO of Fertilizer Canada, said:

“The North American fertilizer industry has developed a robust science-based 4R Certification program for agri-retailers which validates the climate-smart agricultural practices of their growers. The 4R Certification program further demonstrates the fertilizer industry’s commitment to increase on-farm crop productivity and fertilizer efficiency while also demonstrating our leadership in sustainable agriculture.”

4R Nutrient Stewardship (Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place®) is an internationally recognized framework that can be tailored to fit specific crop types, climates and soils. Over the last decade, Fertilizer Canada has implemented the 4Rs through both the 4R Certification and 4R Designation Programs. Developed for agri-retailers, these voluntary programs quantify their sustainable efforts through collecting and reporting acres that are applying 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices.

Dave Buttenham, CEO of the Ontario Agri-Business Association, said:

“The development and implementation of clear, concise and achievable standards provide ag retailers with a consistent 4R framework that guides the delivery of products and services to the farm community across Ontario. It is imperative that the 4R Certification standards guiding Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place ® are continuously reviewed and updated to ensure they use the most recent technology, research and science available to the industry.”

Fertilizer Canada, together with the 4R Ontario Steering Committee, amended the audited 4R Certification Program from Ohio to meet the conditions in Ontario, while at the same time ensuring alignment between cross-border efforts aimed at the long-term improvement of the Great Lakes water quality, particularly Lake Erie. The program has since expanded to include Prince Edward Island, with the 4R Designation Program being implemented in Western Canada.

The 4R Certification Program is a voluntary, industry-led program that promotes the sustainable use of nutrients on agricultural fields, which significantly reduces and prevents nutrients run-off. The program certifies nutrient service provider’s business practices against the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship. 4R Certified agri retail sites conduct annual, independent, third-party audits which validate their understanding of the 4R principles, nutrient recommendations and application practices, and documentation. Following and recommendation and implementation of 4R principles with their grower customers.

Agri-retailers interested in implementing the 4R Certification or 4R Designation program in Canada should contact Fertilizer Canada to learn more about the programs and the steps required to participate.

Source: Fertilizer Canada

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In this role, Dr. Wagner-Riddle will report on the strategies and developments within her region, providing an internationally coordinated approach to achieve the INI aims.

INI is an international program, set up in 2003 under the sponsorship of the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) and from the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP). The key aims of the INI are to:

• optimize nitrogen’s beneficial role in sustainable food production, and
• minimize nitrogen’s adverse effects on human health and the environment resulting from food and energy production.

The program is currently a sustained partner of Future Earth.

Garth Whyte, President and CEO at Fertilizer Canada, said:

“We are delighted to hear the news of Dr. Wagner-Riddle’s appointment as Director of the North America regional chapter of INI, and extend our best wishes to Dr. Groffman as well. Dr. Wagner-Riddle creates impacts that extend beyond Canada and enables knowledge transfer and collaborations at an international level.”

Over Dr. Wagner-Riddle’s research career, she has authored or coauthored over 136 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Her Google Scholar h-index is 36 (29 since 2015). She is lead author on an original article about nitrous oxide (N₂0) emissions induced by freeze-thaw cycles, recently published in Nature Geoscience, an international journal with a very high impact factor.

Dr. Tom Bruulsema, Chief Scientist of Plant Nutrition Canada, said:

“Having served on advisory committees for several of Dr. Wagner-Riddle’s past graduate students, I can attest to her world-class research expertise in assessing both the beneficial and adverse impacts associated with nitrogen management in agriculture. I look forward to continued collaboration with her diligent research team.”

During the past six years, she supervised six post-doctoral research associates. Post-doctoral projects included several assessing 4R Nutrient Management practices for their impact on N₂0 emission, net greenhouse gas balance, and crop productivity. A large part of her career has contributed to the development of agrometeorological methods relevant to an international application.

Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle, Editor-in-Chief, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology and Professor, School of Environmental Sciences University of Guelph, said:

“I am honoured to have been selected for this position and I look forward to working with Dr. Groffman and the INI steering committee to advance INI’s goals. It is extremely important to have stakeholders such as Fertilizer Canada on board to achieve the goals of improved nitrogen use efficiency and to minimize the impact of nitrogen use on the environment”.

Source: Fertilizer Canada

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During this period of uncertainty for many industries across the country, Canadian farmers are working harder now more than ever to ensure that agriculture production continues as normal. Deemed an essential service by federal and provincial governments alike, the fertilizer supply chain is ready and equipped to meet growers’ needs during the critical spring planting season.

As we all grapple with the challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fertilizer industry will continue to play a leading role in global food production. Keeping food on the table for Canadians and people around the world remains our priority.

Our members are set to go. COVID-19 contingency plans were quickly established at facilities, in conjunction with being declared an essential service, and there was minimal disruption allowing businesses to operate at a normal capacity. Fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, and agri-retailers are doing everything they can to keep their customers, suppliers, and employees healthy and safe. The general view is: so far, so good.

In a survey conducted by Fertilizer Canada this month, 90 percent of member company respondents said that they have enough product on-hand or on the way to get fertilizer to their farmer customers in time for the planting season.

While the industry is currently operating at normal capacity, there are business concerns related to COVID-19 that could affect this, including potential labor shortages, facility shutdowns and the reliability of the supply chain. In the meantime, we want to make clear that the fertilizer industry believes this season will be normal, if not above average, in terms of fertilizer demand and crop production.

The fertilizer industry takes our role in feeding the world seriously and knows that farmers rely on fertilizer in the spring to ensure a successful harvest in the fall. By investing in the use of fertilizer today, farmers are growing hope for tomorrow.

The Canadian fertilizer industry has proven its adaptability in challenging situations to meet not only the needs of customers but any employee along the supply chain. Once the Canadian economy works to bounce back from this challenging period, farmers and producers will undoubtedly play a leading role in the country’s economic recovery in the coming months.

Sincerely,

Garth Whyte

President & CEO, Fertilizer Canada

Source: Fertilizer Canada

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Garth Whyte, President and CEO at Fertilizer Canada, said:

“We are very pleased to see that not only has the federal government declared our industry and supply chain as an essential service, but so have a majority of provinces. Our manufacturing facilities will continue to operate at normal capacity to meet the demands of farmers as they begin preparations for the spring planting season.”

The Canadian fertilizer industry has proven its adaptability in challenging situations to meet not only the needs of customers, but any worker along the supply chain. Once the Canadian economy works to bounce back from this challenging period, farmers and producers will undoubtedly play a leading role in the country’s economic recovery in the coming months.

“The Canadian fertilizer industry employs over 76,000 workers and contributes nearly $24 billion to Canada’s economy every year. In order to maintain our status as a global leader and to keep our workers and communities safe, industry and government must work together, particularly during this global health crisis,”

said Whyte.

Fertilizer Canada looks forward to working with all political parties to seek solutions to the challenges faced by the fertilizer industry today. This will ensure farmers in Canada and around the world have access to reliable and sustainable fertilizer products.

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The United States’ Department of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture, designated significant portions of US fertilizer supply chain as “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers.” This guidance is intended to be used by US federal, state, and local governments to make decisions about what classes of workers may be excluded from the shelter in place requirements. It is an acknowledgment that the workers in this supply chain are necessary to the country’s recovery from COVID-19.

Garth Whyte, President & CEO of Fertilizer Canada, said:

“The next two months are critical, both for the Canadian response to the COVID-19 pandemic but also to our farmer customers who are already beginning preparations for the spring planting season. The federal government must maintain our national food supply chains and, mirror the actions in the United States of America, draft a list of essential critical infrastructure workers that could be used by federal departments and provincial and territorial governments to make decisions.”

Fertilizer Canada is recommending the list include the entire Canadian fertilizer supply chain, from manufacturing in plants, to transportation, to ag-retail locations that allow farmers to receive their goods.

Additionally, in order to maintain continued operations, individuals who are critical to product manufacturing lines and transportation in-person training has been suspended, until a set time after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fertilizer Canada is requesting the government to extend the expiry dates of certifications for workers in our industry possess, where it is safe to do so.

At a time when the situation is rapidly changing, and new policies are being brought in on a continual basis, it is important that governments do not create unintended consequences for the agriculture industry.

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Fertilizer Canada is essential to continued global food security. Canadian agriculture will play a critical role in helping the world recuperate from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like many industries that rely on Canada’s infrastructure system to deliver products we have felt the impact of recent disruptions. However, we have done well in recovering and generally have normal supplies of fertilizer moving throughout the country. This movement must continue, allowing farmers to position the product for the beginning of the planting season in late April and early May and ensure additional quantities are available for replenishment throughout the entire planting season. 

“Our member companies are implementing COVID-19 contingency plans at manufacturing plants, storage terminals and agri-retail outlets across the country to protect employees and the public and to ensure farmers get the fertilizer they need in time for seeding,”

said Garth Whyte, President & CEO of Fertilizer Canada.

The Canadian supply chain is resilient and can manage through these challenges. Our industry would be concerned about any restrictive measures that may have unintended consequences on rail, port and truck service, imports or operations at agri-retail. Governments must ensure that the Canadian border remains open to the movement of fertilizer in order for farmers to receive their product and meet their spring seeding requirements.

Ensuring a successful planting season and good yields at harvest this fall will be critically important to Canada’s economic recovery in 2020.

Source: Fertilizer Canada

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Garth Whyte, President and CEO at Fertilizer Canada said:

“Fertilizer Canada supports the right to peaceful protest, but key railway blockades are crippling the movement of essential goods and will do irreparable harm to the economy and Canada’s agriculture industry unless they are ended”

Farmers are trying to make up for terrible harvest weather in 2019 that also prevented the fall application of ammonia fertilizer in many parts of the country.

Mr. Whyte said:

“We were already facing a challenge to help farmers catch up and get the fertilizer they need in time for seeding in April and May. They can’t afford this kind of chaos,”

“We are only now recovering from the impacts from the CN Rail strike that happened just a few months ago. There couldn’t be a worse time to pile on with another railway disruption,”

Shipments are at risk every day these disruptions continue and as a world-class exporter of fertilizer, repeated disruptions to the supply chain will have a compounded effect on both Canada’s global competitiveness and overall economic prosperity.

Source: Fertilizer Canada

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