December 11, 2023

Draft protocol to encourage Canada's cattle farmers to cut enteric methane emissions

Environment and Climate Change Canada published a draft fourth protocol under Canada's Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System on December 11.

This new draft protocol, "Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle" or the REME protocol, will incentivise farmers to implement changes that would reduce enteric methane emissions from their beef cattle operations with an opportunity to generate offset credits that they can sell.

REME will encourage beef cattle farms to reduce enteric methane emissions by improving animal diets, management and other strategies that support more efficient animal growth. Each credit represents one tonne of emission reductions. Credits can be sold to facilities that will use them to meet emissions reduction obligations, or to other businesses to meet their low-carbon economy commitments. This means fewer methane emissions and more financial opportunities for Canadian farmers.

To ensure the offset protocol will be a practical solution for farmers to earn revenue for emissions reductions, Canada developed the protocol with input from technical experts in the agricultural sector.

Additionally, the Canadian government is working closely with provinces and territories that have shown leadership in agricultural environmental action to incorporate best practices and build on their experience.

For example, REME was informed by Alberta's offset protocol on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fed cattle. It is just one of a number of measures Canada is taking to help decarbonise the agricultural sector.

Just last month, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced a $12 million investment in the Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge. This challenge awards funding to innovators advancing low-cost and scalable practices, processes and technologies designed to reduce enteric methane emissions produced by cattle.

- Environment and Climate Change Canada