Resolution

WHEREAS The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC) has developed a draft voluntary Code of Practice for Grain Production (Responsible Grain);

WHEREAS Canadian grain is of high quality and produced in accordance with science-based standards and regulations covering crop protection products, land-use management and environmental stewardship;

WHEREAS the Code is national in scope and contains recommendations that are inconsistent with the need to adapt farm practices to weather and production conditions that vary across regions and provinces;

WHEREAS there is considerable overlap but lack of integration between the Code and existing provincial Environmental Farm Plans, market-specific sustainability programs, and voluntary conservation projects;

BE IT RESOLVED that APAS reject the proposed Code of Practice for grain production; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC) be encouraged to promote current farm practices and regulations and only proceed with additional “assurance benchmarks” that address a clear need/market risk, are producer driven, and recognize the value of current responsible stewardship practices.