1.
Nitrous Oxide Emissions Reduction
Protocol (NERP): What’s Next
Nov. 3, 2010
Den Haag
Clyde Graham

2.
What the heck is NERP?

3.
Nitrous Oxide Emission Reduction
Protocol (NERP)
 Reduces on-farm emissions of nitrous oxide in a quantifiable,
credible and verifiable way that would allow farmers to earn
carbon credits.
 Approved in the Canadian province of Alberta, the first
jurisdiction in North America to actively regulate Greenhouse
Gas(GHG) emissions and establish a regulatory carbon trading
market.
 NERP is based on applying fertilizer using Best Management
Practices. The 4R nutrient stewardship system is applying the
Right Source @Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place®.
 Three levels of application (basic, intermediate and advanced),
 NERP addresses the pillars of sustainable development:
environmental, social and economic.

4.
The bottom line
15% to 25 % reduction in Nitrous
Oxide emissions from fertilizer
application
New science could almost double
those estimates
Manages the risk of Nitrate
accumulation in soils

5.
Right Source
@
Right Rate,
Right Time,
Right Place®

6.
Performance
Level
Right Source Right Rate Right Time Right
Place
Reduction
Modifier
Basic
• Ammonium-based
formulation;
• Apply N according to
recommendation of 4R N
stewardship plan*, using
annual soil testing and/or
N balance to determine
application rate.
• Apply in spring; or
• Split apply; or
• Apply after soil cools
in fall
Apply in
bands /
Injection
0.85
Intermediate
• Ammonium-based
formulation; and
• Use slow /
controlled release
fertilizers; or
• Inhibitors; or
• Stabilized N
• Apply N according to
qualitative estimates of
field variability
(landscape position, soil
variability)
• Apply fertilizer in
spring; or
• Split apply; or
• Apply after soil cools
in fall if using slow /
controlled release
fertilizer or
inhibitors / stabilized
N
Apply in
bands /
Injection
0.75
Advanced
• Ammonium-based
formulation; and
• Use slow /
controlled release
fertilizers; or
• Inhibitors; or
• Stabilized N
• Apply N according to
quantified field
variability (e.g. digitized
soil maps, grid sampling,
satellite imagery, real
time crop sensors.) and
complemented by in
season crop monitoring
• Apply fertilizer in
spring; or
• Split apply; or
• Apply after soil cools
in fall if using slow /
controlled release
fertilizer or
inhibitors / stabilized
N
Apply in
bands /
Injection
0.75

7.
Right Source
Any fertilizer which releases more than two-thirds
of its N in the ammonium form.
Slow or controlled release
fertilizers/inhibitors/stabilized N

8.
Right Rate
Soil Test
Variable Rate
Landscape specific

9.
Right Time
•Spring
Application
•Split
Application
•Soil
Temperature – if

10.
Right Place
Banding – concentrating the application

11.
Putting NERP to the test

12.
The Second Green Revolution
“The challenge for your industry is to be at the
head of this green revolution as you were at
the head of the last one. Just as you have
helped turn farming from a subsistence
business into a flourishing industry that feeds
the world, I now call on you to work with
farmers, environmentalists and governments
to help fine-tune agriculture into a business
that feeds the world without harming the
natural world.”
- Hon. George Webster, P.E.I. Minister of Environment, Energy and
Forestry

13.
FAO says
Agricultural production will need to increase by at
least 70 percent to meet demands by 2050
Food security requires agricultural production systems
to change in the direction of higher productivity.
Higher productivity tends to increase GHG emissions
The sustainable intensification of production,
especially in developing countries, can ensure food
security and contribute to mitigating climate change
by reducing deforestation and the encroachment of
agriculture into natural ecosystems

14.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
High production
Intensified
Resilient
Sustainable
Low‐emission

15.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
FAO NERP
High production NERP supports increased production of crops
through better management
Intensified NERP rewards higher intensity on existing
farmland
Resilient NERP promotes conservation agriculture
Sustainable NERP is environmentally AND economically
sustainable; Social: supports food security
Low‐emission NERP reduces emissions per kilo of grain or
oilseeds

16.
NERP Benefits
Drives practice change
Comprehensive, professionally
developed 4R plan advances better N
management.
Support for NERP enhances
infrastructure to continue advances in N
management.
Provides leading edge for ecosystem
services
Documentation prescribed by NERP
requires assessment of total farm N
balance.
Documentation provides proof of claim

17.
What’s next for NERP?

18.
NERP: What’s Next
Science Cluster to refine science
Training for professional advisors
Farmer extension -- under Global Research
Alliance Funding
Expanding NERP: Saskatchewan, Ontario, U.S.
states, Europe, Australia
NERP as the basis for eco-labeling

19.
Science Cluster
Fertilizer industry support for scientific
research projects in Ontario, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta. Two projects
under way.
Focus is to improve measurement of the
impact that the NERP can have on reducing
Nitrous Oxide (N2O) emissions in crop
production.
Goal is to increase offset payments by
refining the scientific understanding of N2O
reductions.

20.
Farmer Extension
Global Research Alliance 2011-12
Access portion of $27 million in Canadian funding
Grant deadline Dec. 7

21.
NERP Professional Training
Agricultural Professionals seeking certification as an
Accredited Professional Advisor (APA).
Project Developers
Agricultural Producers
Verifiers
Government
Students/Teachers

22.
Accreditation Process APA

23.
NERP adoption in Canada

24.
Spreading NERP
Saskatchewan, Ontario showing strong interest
Manitoba may be looking at non-offset adoption
Other provinces?
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) has been promoting
NERP in the United States
Europe showing new interest

25.
NERP Lessons Learned
Change should be a challenge
4R Nutrient Stewardship is flexible and adaptable
Practice-based approach is better than
performance if you want results
Broad scientific consensus is essential
Be conservative in emission reduction estimates
Get scientists, government, farmers in on the
ground floor
It takes longer than you think

26.
NERP and Corporate
Environmentalism

27.
NERP as an eco-label
NERP could be adapted as an eco-label to meet
growing demands by Tropicana, Walmart,
Sobey’s, European biofuels industry for
carbon/environmental footprint
NERP could be an internationally recognized
standard

28.
www.cfi.ca
Thank You