The Challenge of Reconciling Water and Agricultural Policies —The Role of Public Hearings - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 383

Box 2. Summary of the key recommendations of the BAPE Report
on the Sustainable Development of Hog Farming

Toward socially acceptable hog farming
Through land use
planning

Adjust the legal framework governing land use planning and increase involvement
by local authorities in planning farm and non-farm land uses

Review odour-related parameters for distance restrictions imposed on hog
operations

Request odour mitigation measures for expanding hog farms unable to comply
with distance restrictions

Allow production zoning and regional quotas for hog operations

Provide better access to information on hog operations and manure spreading
within the region

Through
participation and
involvement of rural
stakeholders

Establish an environmental and social review process for all hog farm projects
applying for certificates of authorisation

Limit farmer immunity against liability (dust, noise, odour) to “normal” farm practices

Improve public access to information as well as the quality of information

Through health
safety

Increase public health research on risks associated with hog farming

Provide transparent information on health risks

Outlaw meat and bone meal in feed and the use of antibiotics as growth factors

Toward economically viable hog farming

Provide financial support to farmers for the implementation of new environmental
standards

Review the current farm income stabilisation insurance (FISI) programme for the
hog sector

Maintain the current collective marketing system

Allow provincial pig sector growth at same pace as the world market

Toward hog farming compatible with ecological equilibrium
Through manure
management

Improve enforcement of environmental regulations on farms

Reinforce requirements and controls for manure spreading

Require land ownership for new hog farm development or expansion in all regions
with a phosphorus surplus

Among farms with a phosphorus surplus, provide financial support only to those
that went into a surplus situation as a result of changing regulatory requirements

Through ecosystem
protection

Reinforce protection control measures and provide information on spreading near
wells

Intensify surface water quality monitoring in agricultural zones

Increase extension efforts for farmers on the importance of aquatic ecosystem
protection

Provide adequate protection to riparian strips along watercourses and increase
erosion control measures

Provide proper financial support to farmers to encourage adoption of good
management practices not comprised in regulation standards

Allow municipal jurisdictions to control forest clearing

Rapidly implement environmental cross-compliance measures

Develop environmental, social and regulation compliance indicators for farming

Through watershed
management

Watershed management of farming activities is essential to ensure respect of
watershed carrying capacity, establish land use priorities, achieve water quality
standards and appropriately manage manure surplus problems

Source: BAPE, 2003.