Sustainable Use of Biological Resources
The agriculture and agri-food industry is a major contributor to the Canadian economy, accounting for eight percent of the Gross Domestic Product and 15 percent of total employment. Approximately seven percent of Canada's total land base is under some form of agricultural production, with half a million farmers engaged in primary food production worth over $25 billion annually. Not only is the agriculture sector important to the national economy, it also plays a paramount role in our quality of life and well being.
Sustainable use of Biological Resources is the ability to achieve a balance. It is about making use of the natural world by harvesting the products it produces and enjoying the non-material human requirements such as the spiritual and cultural benefits. At the same time, sustainable use maintains the natural support and regulatory functions of ecosystem goods and services including pollination, water purification, pest and disease control, soil building, nutrient cycling and others. This idea of sustainable use recognizes the primary importance of maintaining and supporting the biological processes and functioning ecosystems which provide us with the food we eat, the textiles we use, the lumber we build our homes with and also the importance of natural spaces to our quality of life, our spirituality and our culture.
The impact of agriculture on aspects of biodiversity has been recognized and, in many cases, solutions have been identified and are being implemented. Governments, agricultural producers, conservation organizations and others are addressing problems associated with soil erosion, the chemical contamination of water, wetland drainage, urban encroachment, wildlife and habitat impacts, energy efficiency, air and climate influences, pollution and waste management through programs, policies and regulations. The environmental programs and policies of the Agriculture Policy Framework (APF) have contributed significantly to addressing these issues
It is essential that individual landowners and agricultural producers continue to be involved in the development and implementation of on-going environmentally sustainable agricultural policies and programs. In this way we can be assured that future programs will continue to address on-going challenges we encounter.