CSRC wants feedback on its contents from producers and consumers.   Ottawa—A draft national Code of Practice for environmentally-responsible grain production has been released by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC), which is looking for feedback on it. The Responsible Grain Code was developed by farmers and industry experts as a voluntary, science-based Code for farmers to follow to demonstrate their care and commitment to the environment, says CRSC Chair Cam Dahl. It's intended to address consumers' and customers' priorities and provide practical improvement solutions for farmers when it comes topics such as soil and water management, nutrient management, pest and pesticide management, land use and wildlife as well as a section related to health and wellness. “The grain industry is being proactive in developing this Code of Practice,” Dahl said. CRSC members put a lot of work into developing the Code. “We are now ready for the next step, gathering broad feedback from grain farmers and other stakeholders.” The first consultations will be with farm groups and other organizations connected to grain production and run into February 2021. After that the Code will be updated with comments from the consultations, and then prepared for launch by the end of 2021. Farmers who grow grains, oilseeds and special crops are being asked to provide input that “will help build a stronger Code that is practical, useful, and that will ultimately enhance Canada's reputation with export and domestic customers,” Dahl said. Ted Menzies, a former farm leader and federal cabinet minister, is the chair of the Code's Development Committee. The consultation process is an important step, he said. “The thing that we need to remember is that we're developing this in a draft form and that we are spending time for consultations across the country.” He said, “It's very important that farmers are part of the building process, part of the input as to what makes sense on a farm - economically, environmentally, and socially.” The feedback will be collected through web-based meetings and an online feedback tool, he said. Commodity groups and other grain value chain organizations who wish to participate are asked to contact CRSC at [email protected]. Individual grain farmers and stakeholders can get involved in the consultation by registering to access the feedback tool at www.responsiblegrain.ca. The Code was drafted in response to growing consumer interest in where their food comes from and whether it was produced in a sustainable manner, CRSC said. “In response, domestic and global markets are increasingly considering environmental sustainability, social responsibility and economic viability when sourcing product.” To help Canada's grains sector adapt to these demands, CRSC has worked to develop a national grains sustainability performance reporting based on credible data along with farm-level sustainability measurements that are relevant to Canadian environmental, social, and economic production practices. Comprised of grower, industry, customer and environmental organizations, the CRSC is a national, industry-led forum developing and showcasing Canada's grains sustainability performance. As part of the sustainability initiative, CRSC has developed the Canadian Grains Sustainability Metrics Platform to provide measurements of grain production sustainability performance. Information on it is also available through the responsiblegrain.ca website. 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.