Sean Royer is the Executive Director of Environmental Stewardship Division for the Alberta Agriculture and Rural Environment. His presentation is about past and current activities regarding greenhouse gases, and progress toward environmental sustainability through changes to agricultural practices.
Past and current activities focus on research and outreach. Research efforts currently focus on the Greenhouse Gas Offset System and include professional opinion document, and protocol development studies. Outreach efforts include farmer meetings, trade taxes, composting and recycling. From these initiatives, it has been determined that a strong operational policy is needed, that includes clear protocols and definitions of terms. It is important that farmers are able to believe in the system offset system, and that there is a mechanism in place to bring buyers and sellers together.
Royer discusses the significant drivers of change at the company level. Major international companies, like Starbucks and Sobeys, are focusing on sustainability. These are companies that understand their largest carbon footprint is coming from the agricultural part of their supply chain. For example, McDonalds will be launching a pilot project in Alberta to work on defining sustainability and determining how it will work in their supply chain.
The drive for innovation of products and services also comes from consumers. We want healthy, safe food, and access to local and international cuisine. Many consumers are also concerned with animal welfare and labour rights. We express what we will and will not buy with their wallets. When companies fail to provide the quality of product we expect, they fail to make money. In this way, strategy for change is implemented from two directions: the compliance market and retail market.
This presentation was a part of the Alberta Institute of Agrologists, Tenth Annual Banff Conference, in April of 2014.
