Current Environmental Initiatives Current environmental initiatives and programs are more multifaceted and complex than previous ones. The agriculture and agri-food sector is adopting an increasingly proactive stance in response to growing public awareness and concern on environmental challenges. Producers and the agri-food industry are developing and enforcing codes of practice designed to reduce the environmental impact of primary production. Organic farmers are developing standards for organic production. The Crop Protection Institute has implemented new warehousing standards aimed at reducing the risk associated with the storage of pesticides.
Partnerships are an integral part of the response to environmental challenges.
Partnerships are essential to gain acceptance from a broad range of interests, thereby improving the chances of success. In these times of fiscal restraint, partnerships provide a way of mustering the resources needed to deal with environmental issues. Various arrangements have evolved, ranging from the creation of associations to complex partnerships between producers, the agri-food industry and federal and provincial governments. Current environmental initiatives cover a broad range of environmental issues. Recognition of the complexity of environmental issues and the need for more holistic approaches has also increased.