FREDERICTON (October 26, 2021) – The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) would like to congratulate Minister Bibeau on her re-appointment to the federal cabinet as the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
The CFGA looks forward to continuing to work with Minister Bibeau on several ongoing projects, says CFGA chairperson Chris Martin. He points out that a number of current CFGA projects are focused on climate change mitigation and the enhancement and preservation of grasslands across Canada. Grasslands and pastures remain the single largest land use component of Canadian agriculture, covering over 70-million acres of agricultural land area.
“Grasslands are a critical element in safeguarding valuable carbon stores built through soil carbon sequestration, making the Canadian forage sector a vital partner in the fight against climate change,” Martin says.
Cedric MacLeod, executive director of the CFGA, pointed to the Minister Bibeau's commitment to climate action through a number of ongoing project partnerships with the CFGA.
“The way forward with climate action is getting to work,” MacLeod says. “These partnerships between AAFC and CFGA help put farmers on the frontlines of climate action. We all have a role to play in this effort, and these partnerships put the tools and know-how in the hands of Canadian farmers.”
CFGA currently delivers several federally funded projects, including:
- A $600,000 investment from AAFC to deploy the Canadian Grassland Protocol which was developed and deployed by the CFGA with investment support from Shell Canada to retain grasslands in Canada and secure their carbon stores for the next generation
- A $1-million investment from AAFC to assess the winter survivability of alfalfa in Canada and develop a producer interface tool to support management decisions
- A $1-million investment from AAFC to assess the yield and quality of alfalfa in Canada and develop a producer interface tool to support management decisions
- A $600,000 investment from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to develop a Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool for the Canadian agriculture landscape coast to coast. This is phase 2 of a three-phase project.
Multiple other projects are also in the works in partnership with the federal government and industry partners.
Media Relations:
Trudy Kelly Forsythe, Communications, Canadian Forage and Grassland Association
506-333-4260
info@canadianfga.ca
About the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association:
Incorporated in 2010, the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association provides a national voice for all Canadians who produce hay and forage products and for those whose production is dependent upon forage/grassland production.
