Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) Program

Why be Pro-active in Environmental Stewardship?

The AESA Program and AESA Council grew out of stakeholder consultations in the winter of 1995/96. Those consultations showed the need for targeted environmental programming in agricultural production and processing. The following priorities were identified:

• Maintain and improve soil quality - Proper agricultural production and agroforestry practices can maintain and improve soil quality through: preventing wind and water erosion; decreasing salinization; increasing organic matter levels; improving soil structure and increasing soil fertility.

• Maintain and improve water quality - Water quality deteriorates when pollutants are present in sufficient concentrations to impair the health of dependent plant and animal life. Adopting beneficial agricultural management practices have the potential to decrease contamination of surface and groundwater supplies through pesticides, nutrients, soil sediments, salinity, and wastes.

• Maintain and improve air quality - Primary emissions by agriculture, which may reduce air quality are: particulate matter, odour, methane and nitrous oxide. These emissions can cause adverse human health effects, nuisance, or contribute to global atmospheric change. The goal is to identify and implement sustainable crop production practices, and livestock feeding and manure management practices, that reduce air emissions.

• Maintain biodiversity - Diversity and health of ecosystems must be maintained for long-term mutual benefits. Opportunities for agriculture to contribute to enhanced biodiversity should be pursued. Biodiversity refers to species, ecosystems and the ecological process of which they are a part. Agriculture has impacted wildlife through the loss and degradation of habitat. There is growing recognition that agriculture and wildlife can co-exist. For example, retaining wetlands and planting shelterbelts provides valuable habitat and agricultural benefits.

Environmental stewardship is crucial to the success of Alberta farmers, ranchers and processors. They need good quality soil, water and air to produce the food we eat. And, to maintain the marketing advantage that comes from producing high quality agricultural products in a clean environment, the industry needs to make every effort to protect the environment.

The AESA Program

• the transfer of new technology and information for minimizing environmental impacts, to farmers, ranchers and processors
• monitoring of soil and water quality to track the industry's effects on these resources

Overall program management and evaluation is guided by AESA Council.

The AESA Council

Based on a program evaluation process in November of 1999, the AESA Council has identified the following program priority management issues:

• Nutrient management - Nutrient management involves the feeding, storage, transport, application and use of nutrients (organic and inorganic). It addresses the following challenges: odour, surface and groundwater quality, and human health and safety. Nutrient management also promotes the concept of manure as a resource.

• Sustainable grazing and riparian management - Sustainable grazing addresses environmental concerns and provides a balance between forage production and livestock consumption. A grazing area with a well-balanced variety of species and a well managed grazing schedule produces more grass and creates a sustainable environment for long-term grass production. Healthy grass cover protects soil from erosion and provides wildlife habitat. Where pastures border on riparian areas, grazing management includes riparian area management. Riparian management improves water quality, reduces bank erosion, improves forage production and enhances fish and wildlife habitat.

• Integrated crop management and responsible pest management - Integrated management develops practical agronomic and economic tools for management, taking into account soil, water, air and biodiversity. Cropping systems may include site specific management, crop rotation, crop diversification, grass waterways and/or residue management to reduce the impacts of crop production on the environment. Having an integrated cropping system enhances the profitability and efficiency of farm operations.

  Responsible management of pesticides, including herbicides, fungicides and insecticides, involves proper storage, transportation, application and disposal methods. New environmentally safe and cost effective methods of pesticide use may involve integrated pest management systems such as site specific management, crop rotation or biological control. These methods reduce the environmental risks to soil, water, air and non-targeted species.

• Greenhouse Gas Awareness - Canada's agriculture sector may be significantly affected by climate change and resultant changes in temperature, precipitation, diseases and crop yields. The agriculture sector is unique because 96% of emissions are form non-energy sources including nitrous oxide from fertilizers and manure, and methane from livestock. Many practices to reduce emissions in agriculture are good environmental and economic practices.

The AESA program has three components:

• Farm Based
• Processing Based
• Resource Monitoring
  • Soil Quality
  • Water Quality

For more information contact Carrie Selin

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Last Revised/Reviewed January 17, 2003