Agricultural-Based Food Production Geoenvironment Stressors - Sustainable Practices in Geoenvironmental Engineering - page 209

TABLE 6.6
Canadian Agro-Environmental Indicators

Indicator Group Subgroup Brief Description

Farm
management

Agricultural land use Land-use practices

Soil cover by crops Number of days per year soil is covered by crops

Farm environment
management

Management practices for fertilizer, manure, pesticides

Wild life habitat capacity Water used for irrigation

Water use eficiency Wildlife capacity on farmland

Risk of wildlife damage Driving forces for wildlife damage

Risk of invasive species Population distribution and numbers on agriculture land of

invasive species

Soil quality Water erosion Soil loss due to water runoff

Wind erosion Soil loss due to wind and landscape conditions

Soil organic carbon Change in soil organic content

Tillage erosion risk Soil redistribution due to tilling and cropping

Soil compaction risk Degree of soil compaction due to cropping

Soil salinization risk Increases in soil salinity due to land use, hydrological, climate,

and soil conditions

Trace elements Contamination by trace elements

Water quality Nitrogen contamination

risk

Increase in nitrogen levels in water leaving farm

Phosphorus
contamination risk

Increase in phosphorus levels in water leaving farm

Coliforms Increase in coliform levels in water leaving farm

Pesticides Increase in pesticide levels in water leaving farm

Air quality Agricultural greenhouse

gas budget

Estimates of N 2 O, CH 4 , CO 2 due to agriculture in CO 2
equivalents, ammonia emissions, and particulate matter in air

Ammonia
Particulate matter

Food and
beverage
industry

Energy use and GHG
emissions

Energy content of agricultural input and output

Water use Water intake and discharge intensity

Packaging
Source: Adapted from Eilers, W., MacKay, R., Graham, L. and Lefebrvre (eds.), Environmental Sustainability of
Canadian Agriculture. Agri-Environmental Indicator Report Series , Report 3, Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 2010. Available at http://www.agr.gc.ca/env/naharp-pnarsa/index_e.php.

relate to (a) soil and water quality, (b) land conservation, (c) production of greenhouse gases,
(d) biodiversity, (e) wildlife habitats, and (f) landscape. Soil quality was evaluated based
on risk of water and wind erosion. These were considered of higher concern than soil
compaction or salinization. Overall, about 10% of agricultural land is at risk to erosion.
Conservation or no tillage of land, less intense crop production, and retiring lands can
reduce the effects of soil degradation.
In 2013/2014, the OECD is reviewing all indicators worldwide and will decide future
requirements. They have issued a compendium of indicators OECD (2013) that indicates
there is evidence that OECD countries from 1990 to 2010 have shown positive signs regard-
ing nutrient, pesticide, energy, and water management in terms of inputs per unit volume