A roadmap for reducing the greenhouse gas footprint of Ontario grain production

安大略的粮食生产是重要的就业机会和经济产出的来源。 氮肥在粮食生产中的使用对于维持高产至关重要，但也是一氧化二氮的主要来源，一氧化二氮是一种潜在的温室气体（GHG）。此外，在过去几十年中，还估计了土壤中碳的净损失。为了解决温室气体排放和土壤碳损失问题，粮食生产行业与学术界和政府合作，重点关注两个主要策略：i）使用覆盖作物（CC）增加土壤碳，以及ii）4R营养管理框架Right Source@Right Rate，Right Time，Right Place®用于施用氮肥。在这里，我们提出了一个与工业界、非政府组织和政府的多方利益相关者伙伴关系，其目标是：1）评估4R和CC实践结合使用以减少粮食作物轮作的净温室气体排放的协同效应和权衡; 2）改进可持续性指标中使用的算法和模型，以反映4R和CC实践的使用，包括经济和行为方面;以及3）制定安大略粮食生产部门减少温室气体排放的路线图，包括评估促进采用这些做法的有效手段。为实现目标1，我们建议开展新的实地研究，以评估综合使用这些做法减少温室气体净排放的效益，最大限度地发挥协同作用和效益。实现目标2对于跟踪行业和政府实现目标的进展至关重要，例如加拿大最近宣布的将化肥相关排放量从2020年水平减少30%的目标。为此，我们将与合作伙伴合作开发适当的指标和工具，以确定对温室气体减排最具成本效益的叠加实践（4R + CC），同时考虑采用行为。通过结合生物物理，经济和行为的结果，我们将解决目标3，并制定一个路线图，温室气体减排安大略粮食生产考虑到各种利益相关者的角色（如农民，作物顾问，农业金融部门，政府机构）。拟议的研究将有助于推动粮食生产部门实现净零碳排放目标。

Grain production in Ontario is a source of significant jobs and economic output. Nitrogen fertilizer use in grain production is vital for sustaining high yields but also the main source of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG). In addition, a net loss of carbon from soils has been estimated over the last decades. To address GHG emissions and soil carbon loss, the grain production industry in collaboration with academics and government has focused on two main strategies: i) use of cover crops (CC) for increased soil carbon, and ii) the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place® for application of N fertilizer. Here we propose a multi-stakeholder partnership with industry, non-governmental organizations and government with the goals of: 1) evaluating synergies and trade-offs in the combined use of 4R and CC practices to reduce net GHG emissions from grain crop rotations; 2) improving algorithms and models used in sustainability metrics to reflect the use of 4R and CC practices including economic and behavioral aspects; and 3) developing a road-map for GHG reduction by the grain production sector in Ontario including an evaluation of the effective instruments to promote adoption of these practices. To achieve goal 1, we are proposing new field studies to evaluate the benefits from the combined use of these practices to reduce net GHG emissions, maximizing synergies and benefits. Addressing goal 2 will be crucial for tracking progress towards achieving targets by industry and government, such as Canada's recently announced goal of reducing fertilizer related emissions by 30% below 2020 levels. To this end, we will work with our partners to develop appropriate metrics and tools to determine the stacked practices (4Rs + CC) that are most cost-effective for GHG reduction while also considering adoption behavior. By combining biophysical, economic and behavioral results we will address goal 3 and develop a roadmap for GHG emission reduction in Ontario grain production considering various stakeholder roles (e.g. farmers, crop advisers, farm finance sector, government agencies). The proposed research will contribute to moving the grain production sector towards net-zero carbon emission targets.