1 Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality: A Tri-National Collaborative Initiative PRAIRIE WATER POLICY SYMPOSIUM September 23 rd, 2005 Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality: A Tri-National Collaborative Initiative PRAIRIE WATER POLICY SYMPOSIUM September 23 rd, 2005 Presented by: Tim Marta Associate Director, Agri-Environmental Policy Bureau Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

2 Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada 1. Background 2. Objective 3. Approach and Methodology 4. Mechanisms and Processes 5. Products 6. Dissemination of Results 7. Impacts and Benefits

3 Background Agriculture Deputies Agreement, 2002 Agriculture Deputies Agreement, 2002 Tri-National Workshop, October 2003 Tri-National Workshop, October 2003 Follow-Up Work, Follow-Up Work, Final Result Final Result Next Round (?) Next Round (?) Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

4 Objective Establish tri-national collaboration through… Sharing information and experience Conducting synthesis and analysis Enabling learning and application… Support healthy and sustainable water quality through environmentally sustainable agriculture Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

5 Approach and Methodology Conduct Country Missions: Assure broad participation, help communicate and coordinate national approaches Develop Work Plans: Activities are guided by jointly prepared and approved work plans Establish Mechanisms and Processes: Coordinate and facilitate Tri-National collaboration Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

6 Mechanisms and Processes Tri-National Working Groups Tri-National Working Groups Work Plans Work Plans Communication & Coordination Communication & Coordination Products Products Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

7 Tri-National Working Groups Policy Instruments (Lead Country: Mexico) Program Delivery (Lead Country: Canada) Research and Information (Lead Country: USA) Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

8 Work Plans (1) Standardized Collection of Information (2) Synthesis and Analysis (3) Results Dissemination Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

9 Coordination and Communication Country Coordinators Country Coordinators Lead Countries Lead Countries Working Meetings Working Meetings Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

10 (1) Products: Policy Instruments Review Existing regulatory approaches for the protection of water quality from agricultural activities Existing voluntary incentive programs (financial) Existing technical support programs Non ‑ governmental incentive programs Role of monitoring Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

11 (2) Products: Program Delivery Types of agriculture practiced in the three countries (by climate) Actions to reduce fertilizer loss from croplands Actions to reduce pesticide loss from croplands Actions to reduce sediment runoff Livestock operations Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

12 (3) Products: Research and Information State-of-the art and new technologies that are on the horizon, and are currently being researched Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

13 Dissemination of Results Present the final results at the 4th World Water Forum, March 16-22, 2006, Mexico City Website, CD-ROM, event, presentations Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

14 Impacts and Benefits: Putting BMPs into Practice Sharing information and learning from experience Potential applicability of common BMPs from one country to another Common watershed partnerships Sharing of common tools and indicators Future collaboration in other areas Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada

15 Questions? Tri-National Collaborative Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality (ESAWQ) : Mexico, USA and Canada