Alberta shows a way to assist producers with carbon offset program.Farmers face a tough challenge increasing food production to feed a hungry world without pumping more greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, says Lynn Jacobson, President of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture.Agriculture practices that boost carbon storage in soils have been adopted in Canada but increasing food production still means more use of fertilizer and fuel, he told the Senate agriculture committee. A lot more food will be needed as the global population climbs to 9.5 billion in 2050 from the current 7.5 billion.“Unfortunately, we can't have one without the other,” he said. “We must acknowledge the limitations to reducing net Canadian agricultural greenhouse gas emissions while also asking farmers to increase production.”Agriculture accounts for approximately 10.2 per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions from animals, crops and fuel, he said. However, modern cultivation and cropping practices enables farmland to serve as a carbon sink dropping agriculture's net total to 8.6 per cent. “This further makes the case that agriculture can be part of the solution when it comes to decreasing carbon.”Under a carbon offset system introduced in January 2017, Alberta farmers can take advantage of a carbon offset system that enables them to earn extra income “while creating carbon credits for trade within the carbon market,” Jacobson said. “We've shown Canadians how things can be done and learned valuable lessons along the way.”While the provincial program exempts dyed gasoline or diesel used in farming operations, “it does not extend to the use of natural gas and propane, both of which play a big role in agriculture production practices like grain drying and irrigation,” he said.Alberta currently has the most farming acres under irrigation in the country. In 2016, Alberta producers irrigated 1.21 million acres of farmland, representing 71 per cent of the total irrigated land in Canada.Climate change with its unpredictable weather patterns will make irrigation more important than ever before, he said. “Further, as the price of unavoidable input costs along the supply chain continue to increase — things like trucking, fertilizer, rail transportation and electricity — farmers' profits decrease without the ability to pass additional costs to customers.”While the Alberta Federation of Agriculture wants all farm fuels exempt from carbon pricing, it could be possible to create “a tax credit for fuels used by farmers in the production of food.” It could capture the cost of trucking; rail transportation and electricity for irrigation needs, which is generated by natural gas.“As agriculture continues to change and evolve, clearly defining what agriculture is, along with the activities that fall under its umbrella, becomes more important,” he said. Proposed federal legislation on carbon emissions includes a definition of eligible farming activities provides little details on what is covered. It needs to be discussed.The government needs to realize that Canadian food exporters are competing against products from countries that don't with a carbon tax of any kind. “Steps must be taken to ensure that carbon pricing does not affect our competitiveness on the global stage.“Within our own country, farmers are already being affected differently by carbon pricing due to approaches taken by each province,” he said. “This has created disadvantages for some producers. We would like to see a federal, standardized approach to the carbon offset system, which would help to level the playing feel for farmers across Canada and allow for trading of carbon credits across provinces.”Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.