Increasing 4R Adoption Levels to Improve Production

Fertilizer Canada and Alberta Grains have developed a three-year 4R Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines how Agriculture and Irrigation, the agriculture industry, and producers can work together to bolster data collection and communication to increase 4R practice adoption levels. 

The MOU aims to improve production and environmental stewardship through greater awareness of 4R practices and principles, as well as establishing mechanisms to pursue priorities related to soil health/quality and nutrient management, and to support the Alberta government's commitments to the crop industry’s sustainable growth. Ultimately, it will help farmers adopt science-based nutrient stewardship practices in Alberta.

4R Nutrient Stewardship is a science-based suite of best management practices for farmers, that optimize nutrient uptake by using the right source of nutrient at the right rate, right time, and in the right place. Approximately 65 per cent of farmers in Alberta self-report that they comply with at least a basic level of 4R practices, and in 2024, 2,152,586 acres in Alberta were reported as 4R. 

Interested in learning more? Programs like Alberta’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership On-Farm Efficiency program support producers in meeting 4R nutrient stewardship objectives.