Jul 13, 2022

Canadian government invests in new technology to produce fertilizers made with organic carbon

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of up to C $1,685,858 for Sulvaris in Calgary, Alberta, to further develop new technology to produce high-efficiency fertilizers made with organic carbon.

Sulvaris’ carbon control technology converts various forms of organic waste into high-efficiency fertilizers. They are rich in nutrients and soil-building carbon and economical to use in large-scale agriculture, as well as for lawn and plants in commercial and home use. The fertilizers improve on conventional chemical fertilizers by releasing nutrients more slowly. This gives plants the ability to absorb the nutrients as they need them to develop and grow. The more efficient uptake means less unabsorbed nutrients are left in the soil, reducing the risk of them releasing harmful greenhouse gas emissions or contaminating waterways.

Since the release of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan, the Government of Canada has been working to improve the environmental sustainability of fertilizer. In December 2020, a national target was announced to reduce fertilizer greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. A new round of consultations with producer groups on ways to meet the target is being completed this summer, with high-efficiency fertilizers identified as one of the approaches.

These consultations are intended to build upon the sector’s work to date, and increase adoption of regional and farm-specific approaches that will reverse the trend of rising emissions from fertilizer use while maintaining the sector’s competitiveness and Canada’s reputation as a top producer and exporter of quality crops.

Canada produces 12% of the world’s fertilizer supply and exports to over 75 countries every year. The Government of Canada will continue to work with farmers across the country to support strategies and practices for adapting to climate change and for producing more quality food for a growing population.