NFU says cutting inputs best way to reduce farm GHG emissions.   Ottawa—Canadian dairy farmers have some bragging rights when it comes to reducing agriculture's environmental footprint and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, says David Wiens, Vice-President, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC). The sector has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world and produces one litre of milk with less than half the GHG emissions of the global average, he told the Commons agriculture committee. “From 1990 to 2016, the carbon footprint of a litre of milk produced in Canada has decreased by 23 per cent according to government data,” he said. “Over the years, dairy farming has made great strides in cutting emissions and the land and water required to produce each litre of milk.” The committee has launched s study into the Environmental Contribution of Agriculture. Weins said an independent life-analysis showed that from 2011 to 2016, the Canadian dairy sector reduced its carbon footprint by 7 per cent, water consumption by 6 per cent and land use by 11 per cent. “There are few sectors in Canada or around the world that can match this kind of progress.” In 2019, DFC received international recognition from Unilever for its commitment towards sustainable milk production practices. Darrin Qualman, NFU Director of Climate Crisis Policy and Action, said the most important thing in reducing GHG emissions is to realize that farming does not produce them, agricultural inputs do. “It follows inescapably that any low-emission farmer food system will be a low-input system.” He said that reducing could be a money maker for farmers. “For every dollar that farmers earn, a larger and larger share goes to pay for inputs. Farmers' increasing over-dependence on purchased inputs is driving emissions up and driving margins down. Thus, reducing dependence on purchased inputs can have the double benefit of reducing emissions and increasing incomes.” He was especially critical of nitrogen fertilizer because it is “a major source of all three of the GHGs—carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. It is a major source of carbon dioxide when it is produced, creates nitrous oxide when applied it produces significant sources of methane from its natural gas feedstock. “Agribusiness corporations have come forward with technologies they say can reduce emissions, technologies such as data platforms, artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, sensors, drones, bots, driverless tractors, etc. However, these technologies threaten to entangle farmers in a vast web of data flows, patents, software licences and technology platforms. This web of technology will reduce farmers' control and their margins.” The alternative would be measures that focus on soil health, biodiversity, resilience, farm-supplied solutions and working with nature. He said Canada needs to “pursue emission reduction with near wartime levels of intensity, effectiveness and speed. Climate change is the most serious crisis ever to face humanity.” 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.