Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to begin by acknowledging that I am speaking to you today from the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people here in Ottawa.
On behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, I am pleased to speak to you about how clean technologies are being utilized in Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector to reduce greenhouse gases and other negative impacts, and about technologies that help to contribute to global emission-reduction targets.
Producing food to feed the world is already a challenge. We see that in the current context. Doing that sustainably is an even greater one. Farmers are stewards of the land and are taking great strides to protect the environment, but at the same time we know there is still more work to do. Supporting the development and adoption of clean technology is an important part of ensuring that farmers have the right tools they need to increase production to support global food security.
The best way forward is to identify practices and technologies that farmers can use to reduce emissions while maintaining yields. The good news is that farmers are already investing in new practices and technologies to keep their land healthy, productive and resilient. That is why the government's budget 2022 commitment of over $1 billion in new funding to reduce GHG emissions in agriculture, including $330 million for the agriculture clean-technology program, is critical as we work towards net-zero emissions. This builds on previous commitments that triple investments in the agriculture clean-technology program, supporting the development and adoption of clean technologies in this sector.
Since its launch in 2021, the agriculture clean-technology program has been well received by the sector, and 110 projects, representing $33 million, have been announced. To date, the program has supported a wide range of projects, including investing in upgrading and modernizing grain dryers; fuel switching, such as replacing coal barn-heating systems with wood waste-heating systems; and purchasing biomass boilers, to name just a few.
I would say, in the context of future agriculture clean-tech programming, there really are four areas of focus: nitrogen-reduction technologies, methane-reduction technologies, low-carbon energy systems and emission-quantification technologies, i.e., soil sensing with regard to soil carbonization. These investments will yield significant GHG reductions without negatively impacting yields. Creating an enabling environment for the development, commercialization and validation of emerging innovations that will position the sector to meet 2050 climate targets will also be instrumental. This includes finding transformative solutions like nitrogen-fixing crops, alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and low-carbon biofuels.
In closing, continued investment in existing and emerging clean technologies will help equip Canada's agriculture sector with the right tools to protect our environment, to grow the economy and to continue to build vibrant communities across the country.