The Ontario Sustainability Story Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 Soy Canada Trade Mission barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. Fall 2019
A bit about myself… • Chief Executive Officer of Grain Farmers of Ontario • Farm with my family in Lipton, Saskatchewan • Secretary-Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Soy Canada Barry Senft GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
About Grain Farmers of Ontario Represents 28,000 farmers who grow barley, corn, oats, soybeans and wheat in Ontario, covering more than 2.5 million hectares, producing 13 million tonnes of grain Our Mission To develop and promote an innovative and successful business environment which will allow our farmer members the opportunity for profitable growth. Our Vision To drive the Ontario grain industry to become a world leader GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Multi-generational, Ontario grain farms 97% of farms in Ontario are family owned GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
The Soybean Industry is vital to Ontario • Ontario’s soybean industry plays a significant role to the economy of Ontario and Canada GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
The Ontario Soybean Advantage • Ontario is known as a quality, safe and reliable producer of sustainable soybeans that surpass our customers expectations • Beyond the quality, safe and reliability of our soybeans we have an advantage that our competitors do not • Our Environment and our commitment to preserving and protecting it GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
We Preserve and Protect Our Water Ontario is home to 1/5 of the world’s fresh water source Long Point, Ontario GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
We Preserve and Protect Our Forests Ontario is Encompassing Ontario’s home to forest 66% of represent 70 million Ontario’s land 2% of the hectares of forest worlds forest GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
We Preserve and Protect Our Air Energy use to plant, grow and The impact harvest a crop Ontario soybean has dropped by production has 28% on the climate has decreased by 18% GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
We Preserve and Protect Biodiversity 81 different species of mammals 50 different species of 483 different amphibians and reptiles species of birds 3600 154 different different species of species of fish plants GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Ontario is home to efficient transportation networks 16 days Antwerp, Belgium 16 days Rotterdam, Netherlands 17 days Brake, Germany *from the Port of Hamilton GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
How are we protecting and preserving our environment? Research Technology & Innovations Policy Developments GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Climate Change • Canada signing onto the Paris Direct Energy Fertilizer 7% Manufacturing Agreement identifies our 3% Seeds & commitments to mitigating climate Pesticides 5% change ∆ Soil Carbon 44% • Grain Farmers of Ontario carbon footprint of soybean production identifies our willingness for change Nitrous Oxide Emissions 41% • In agriculture, Ontario’s soils are where opportunity exist to reduce Carbon Footprint of Soybean Production in climate impacts Ontario GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Research Funding Priority Research • Annually we invest $7.8 million in priority research projects with leading Canadian researchers at local institutions • Priority research areas that help to preserve and protect our environment include: • Environmental and economic value of soil services • Cover crops • Organic matter in soils • Nutrient use efficiency GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Technology & Innovations Nitrogen Use Efficiency • Loss of nitrogen through nitrous oxide emissions play a role in the carbon footprint of soybean production • The use of innovative technologies such as stabilizers or controlled release technologies allow farmers to maximize the Nitrogen availability to a crop • This minimizes environmental loss in our air and waterways while allowing farmers to be economically efficient GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Technology & Innovations Variable Rate Technology GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Technology & Innovations Cover Crops • Cover crops a non-harvestable crop planted to “cover” the soil in the non growing season to protect against wind and water erosion • The use of cover crops have the ability to maintain and build soil health which can positively impact our soils ability to store carbon GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Policy Developments Ontario’s 50 Million Tree Program • Goal of planting 50 million trees across Ontario • More than 29 million trees have been planted in Ontario through the program, producing 16,000 hectares of new forest • To date, this contributed over $83- million in annual ecosystem services GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Policy Developments Managing Nutrients • Ontario’s Nutrient Management Act ensures the management of manure and biosolids • 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program optimizes crop uptake of nutrients and minimize nutrient losses • The goal of these initiative is to help improve water quality in the Great Lakes and contributing watersheds, reduce climate impact from Nitrous Oxide (N2O) emissions while also increasing agricultural productivity GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
SAI Platform • SAI Platform is the main food and drink industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide • SAI Platform helps to drive sustainable agriculture through the value chain by having farmers go through their Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) • Through the SAI Platform, Grain Farmers of Ontario are driving sustainable agriculture outcomes on farm GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
The Ontario Soybean Advantage • Ontario is a leader of producing quality, safe and reliable soybeans • Our natural environment is a unique feature that allows us to thrive • Grain Farmers of Ontario are committed to preserving and protecting our natural environment for the future generations • As time moves forward, our commitments to ongoing improvement remain, always trying to advance the industry forward GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Thank you! Barry Senft Chief Executive Officer Grain Farmers of Ontario b.senft@gfo.ca GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Recommend
More recommend
