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Sustainable Development Strategy
Overview of Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) Departmental Goals
SDS Departmental Goals consist of AAFC's eight outcomes described in its fourth SDS. These eight outcomes represent an integrative approach undertaken by AAFC, which recognizes that sustainable agriculture is truly an interplay among that part of the Canadian economy supported by the agriculture and agri-food industry, the environment in which agriculture takes place, and the people who practice agriculture and reap its benefits.
Performance measurement for each outcome is based on performance indicators identified in AAFC's SDS IV. As well, Federal SDS goals were established by Environment Canada during the preparation of the fourth round of SDSs and AAFC's SDS IV identifies, where applicable, links to the federal goals. AAFC's SDS IV, Making Progress Together, can be found on the department's website.
| SDS Departmental Goals (AAFC's Outcomes from current SDS) | Performance measurement from current SDS (Performance Indicators) | Department's expected results for 2009-10 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Next Generation of Agricultural Policy is in place and operational. | The number of new policy, programs and research initiatives that consider the three pillars of sustainable development as determined through application of the SD Test Questions. | SD Test Questions continue to be applied to upcoming policy, programs and research initiatives. |
| A suite of policy, program and research activities in place to support the objectives of the next generation of agricultural policy. | Growing Forward programming is in place and operational, including both BRM and non-BRM | |
| Number of stakeholders (both internal and external) from various disciplines involved in the development of the next generation of agricultural policy. | Continuous input received from stakeholders directly, as well as from provinces and territories and other Government of Canada departments, and through the Growing Forward Website. | |
| 2. Government policies, programs, and services increase opportunities for, and mitigate barriers, to sustainable rural community development. | Percentage of federal policies and programs that consider the rural perspective. | The Rural Secretariat will be advised of all Cabinet submissions received by AAFC and will assess and provide input on all those having rural implications. |
| Number of partnership plans with key federal, provincial and territorial, and First Nation partners. | In addition to the existing thirteen Rural Teams and policy and research networks, three (3) new partnering initiatives will be established that bring together government and non-government stakeholders on rural issues. | |
| Percentage of departments and agencies reached through federal engagement strategy activities including: Rural Teams, Rural Research Network Rural Development Network. | Forty percent of all federal departments and agencies will be reached through federal engagement strategy activities. | |
| 3. Increased value-added opportunities for the agri-food sector from innovative use of agricultural bioresources as a result of R&D, technology transfer, and commercialization network activities. | Increased knowledge and technological advances produced by the Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program (ABIP) networks with the potential to strengthen Canada's industrial base and generate wealth. | Increased knowledge and technological advances produced by the ABIP networks by negotiating and initiating the implementation of the ABIP agreements (i.e., letters of understanding, network agreements) in order to fund R&D conducted by the successful networks. |
| Increased number of effective networks/clusters involving Canadian-based researchers. | Nine new effective networks/clusters involving Canadian-based researchers are established. | |
| Improving transfer of knowledge, technology and expertise to organizations that can commercialize these innovations. | The transfer of knowledge, technology and expertise is improved through the implementation of technology management plans concerning the protection and application of know-how, show-how and intellectual property developed by the ABIP networks. | |
| An ABIP that considers each of the three pillars of SD. | ABIP considers each of the three pillars of SD (economic, environmental and social) through the bioproducts research activities of the new networks that focus on the following priority areas of feedstock development, biomass conversion, and bioproduct diversification. | |
| 4. Sustainable development is integrated into the Department's decision making and AAFC's fourth SDS is utilized by AAFC employees and external stakeholders. | Increased awareness of sustainable development within the Department | Offer an information session on sustainable development to AAFC employees. Promote sustainable development and SD tools during Environment Week. |
| Each pillar of SD is taken into consideration together and not in isolation through the application of the SD Test Questions. | Continued application of the SD Test Questions to ensure environmental, economic and social considerations are incorporated into decision making. | |
|
5. Information and Tools:
A. Environmental considerations are incorporated into the development of public policies at AAFC on the same level as economic and social considerations |
Percentage of new policies, plans and programs that have gone through the SEA process. The results of SEAs are accurately reported on in all Memoranda to Cabinet (MCs) and Treasury Board (TB) submissions. |
SEAs are conducted for all MCs and TB submissions and the results of SEAs are reported on in the submissions. |
| Increased knowledge of the SEA requirement and its application in the Department. | AAFC will assess the recommendations from the Evaluation of the Cabinet Directive, which governs SEA, being led by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, and determine appropriate measures for implementation. | |
| B. Models inform the ongoing policy decision making process for priority agricultural issues by providing integrated quantitative analyses of the economic and environmental impacts. | An improvement in the capacity to predict environmental impacts from agriculture resulting in informed decision making with respect to agricultural policies and programs that are consistent with both economic and environmental objectives. | Improved capacity to predict economic and environmental impacts for the agricultural sector and inform decision-making on agricultural policies and programs. |
| Number of requests for integrated analyses and incorporation of results into the policy decision making process. | Integrated analysis is conducted as requested and the results are incorporated into the policy decision making process. It is anticipated that three or four major studies will be conducted annually related to key policy issues. | |
| The development of the integrated modeling system considers all three pillars of SD (particularly the economic and environmental pillars) | The integrated modeling system focuses on improving the economic and environmental pillars of SD at this time. | |
| C. Initial research is conducted and measures are in place to determine economic values corresponding to bio-physical changes in the environment resulting from agriculture.; |
Number of stakeholders (both internal and external) from various disciplines involved in the development of AAFC economic valuation studies.
Increased public awareness of the need for, and the practical application of environmental valuation. Number of estimated economic values assigned to environmental effects of specific agricultural practices at specific locations in Canada. |
Results from two AAFC pilots on the economic valuation for environmental benefits and other related work on full-cost accounting for agriculture will be synthesized and presented at a national workshop on Ecological Goods and Services (EG&S). |
| D. A suite of social indicators is in place to help monitor and assess trends of social issues affecting the agriculture sector and to inform decision making. |
The successful development of a defined social dimension of sustainable agriculture. Number of links established between social issues affecting the agriculture sector and related economic and environmental issues. Number of methods available for sharing information on social issues affecting the agriculture sector. |
The social dimensions of sustainable agriculture critical to innovation and competitiveness are further defined.
Information on social factors affecting the agriculture sector's ability to innovate is integrated into, and shared, through discussion documents related to policy design and implementation. |
| 6. Research: To increase carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, reduce GHG emissions per unit of production, and enhance the synergy between agriculture and the environment. |
Improved communication between researchers, policy makers and producers, by demonstrating an increase in the use of AAFC's GHG calculator for evaluating innovative technologies. | The GHG emission intensity will be estimated for the main crops in Canada. |
| Number of confirmed contribution of the program to various offset system pilot projects. | Scientists in AAFC will continue to help develop several of the GHG protocols for various sectors in agriculture. | |
| Enhanced integration of the three pillars of SD by identifying and promoting farming practices that consider all three pillars of SD. | Sustainability of farming practices such as reduced tillage, reduced summer fallowing and more forage crops in rotation will be evaluated. | |
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7. Work with the sector to apply and perfect integrated approaches:
A. The development of the National Ecological Goods and Services (EG&S) Policy Framework benefits from research gathered through EG&S policy pilot projects and through other research initiatives. |
An EG&S policy framework that is science-based will have measurable outcomes for evaluation. An EG&S policy framework that considers each of the three pillars of SD, through application of the SD Test Questions, is in place. |
Results of eight pilot projects and other policy research will be presented at a national workshop and synthesized for distribution to decision-makers. |
| B. Increased adoption of and support for applying an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach to watershed planning and management activities that will improve the protection of water quality from agriculture impacts, secure water supplies for agricultural needs, and consider the three elements of sustainable development. |
Percentage of transferable tools, knowledge activities and instruments that support IWRM and decision making.
Percentage of watershed planning and management activities that apply the IWRM approach to managing resources in watersheds. Percentage of partners and watersheds with capacity-building or decision-making tools, plans and instruments that consider the three elements of sustainable development. |
Transferable tools, knowledge activities and instruments that support agriculture decision-making and participation in IWRM activities.(e.g. Water Forum, a federal/ provincial/ territorial knowledge exchange workshop to be held in March 2009)
Continued adoption of the IWRM approach to managing agriculture resources in a number of watershed planning and management activities across Canada with support from AAFC technical staff. Implementation of Saskatchewan's Integrated Water Management (IWM) Strategy and IWM Governance model with AAFC technical support. Additional watershed-based group farm plans or resource-related studies will be developed to support agri-environmentally sound on-farm and watershed level decisions. Continued participation on the interdepartmental Committee on Water Policy where IWRM, as a governance model, is being promoted. |
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8. Programs:
A. To develop new co-operatives that respond to the needs of citizens, and that fall into areas of federal priority. |
Percentage of co-operatives initiated in new and emerging areas of the economy. | Five percent of new co-operatives that received CDI support are established in new and emerging areas of the economy |
| Percentage of new co-operatives in areas of federal priority. | Eighty percent of new co‑operatives that received CDI support are in areas of federal priority. | |
| Percentage of new co-op funded projects within priority areas that integrate the three pillars of SD. | All new co-op funded projects within priority areas take into account the three pillars of SD. | |
| B. Low-income farm families have found ways to increase their family incomes. | Increased on-or off-farm income for farm families. | The Canadian Agricultural Skills Service contributed to on and off farm income of farmers and farm families. |
| Increased skills of farmers and farm families | The skills of farmers and farm families increased through past participation in professional services such as Farm Business Assessments and skills training under the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service. | |
| Enhanced integration of the three pillars of SD (particularly the social and economic pillars). |
The integration of the pillars of SD was enhanced as economic, and environmental circumstances and goals are considered in the provision of business management tools, information and services to businesses in the sector and programs such as the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service contributed to the "off farm" income of farmers and farm families.
Note that the transition from the APF to Growing Forward on March 31, 2009 will bring an end to these federal programs. |