Closed Consultation

National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative (NAESI) Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

The National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative (NAESI) is a four-year (2004-2008) project between Environment Canada (EC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and is one of many initiatives under AAFC's Agriculture Policy Framework (APF).

The Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) selected 25 ENGO delegates to attend this workshop, which lasted a day-and-a-half in Toronto, on March 21st and 22nd, 2006. which focused on explaining NAESI and its standards, consulting with stakeholders on the potential usefulness of the standards, and discussing the next steps to continue debating.

The 25 Selected ENGO Delegates:

Andrea Berry (Falls Brook Centre)
John Burcombe (Mouvement Au Courant)
Robert A Cameron (South Peace Environment Association)
Maria Castro (Beyond Factory Farming Coalition)
David Daughton (Eastern Co-operative Health Organization)
Cathleen Kneen (BC Food Systems Network, The Ram’s Horn)
Glen Koroluk (Manitoba Eco-Network)
Gabrielle Kretzschmar (New Brunswick Partners in Agriculture)
John Michael Lannon (Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network)
Sandra Madray (Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba)
Anne Mitchell (Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy)
Maureen Reilly (Uxbridge Conservation Authority)
Olga Schwartzkopf (Soil and Water Conservation Society – BC Chapter)
Harvey Scott (Crooked Creek Conservancy)
Ann Slater (Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario)
Lindsay Telfer (Sierra Club of Canada – Prairie Chapter)
Ross Warner (Society for Environmentally Responsible Livestock Operations SERLO)

The goals of the National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative include:

• Establishing non-regulatory national environmental performance standards (with regional application) that support common EC and AAFC goals for the environment
• Evaluating standards attainable by environmentally-beneficial agricultural production and management practices; and
• Increasing understanding of relationships between agriculture and the environment.

For more information, please contact Olivier Bertin-Mahieux, tel: (613) 728-9810 ext. 234 or (514) 996-9810.

Background Information

Background Document:
Sound Science Vs. Precautionary Principle

Under NAESI, agri-environmental performance standards (i.e., outcome-based standards) will be established that identify both desired levels of environmental condition and levels considered achievable based on available technology and practice. These standards will be integrated by AAFC into beneficial agricultural management systems and practices to help reduce environmental risks. Additionally, these will provide benefits to the health and supply of water, health of soils, health of air and the atmosphere; and ensure compatibility between biodiversity and agriculture. Standards are being developed in four thematic areas: Air, Biodiversity, Pesticides, and Water. Outcomes from NAESI will contribute to the APF goals of improved stewardship by agricultural producers of land, water, air and biodiversity and increased Canadian and international confidence that food from the Canadian agriculture and food sector is being produced in a safe and environmentally sound manner. The development of agri-environmental performance standard involves science-based assessments of relative risk and the determination of desired environmental quality.