News
Toolkit available for 4R certification
With the launch of the new Ontario 4R Certification program, a toolkit has been created to help agri-retailers align their businesses with the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship – a Canadian-made program that encourages growers to use the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, right time and in the right place.
June 4, 2018 By Top Crop Manager
Developed by 4R Ontario and facilitated by Fertilizer Canada, 4R Certification is a voluntary program that allows agri-retailers to solidify their commitment to sustainable agriculture through 4R Nutrient Stewardship via a third-party audit of 37 standards.
Becoming a 4R Certified agri-retailer takes just four steps:
- Learn more about 4R certification: The 4R Certification program verifies alignment with 4R Nutrient Stewardship through a third-party audit of 37 standards, as outlined in the standards manual resource included within the toolkit.
- Gather the required evidence for your 4R certification audit: The resources included in the toolkit will help agri-retailers prepare for their 4R certification audit and become 4R certified.
- Book your 4R certification pre-audit: The 4R certification pre-audit is a training session, offered by Warriner Ag, that allows agri-retailers to participate in a trail run of the audit process and learn more about the 37 standards.
- Schedule your 4R certification audit: Agri-retailers can now schedule their official 4R certification audit – the last step to becoming 4R certified.
Fertilizer Canada offers the program as a better measure of performance to address economic, environmental and social considerations. Further, food companies and sustainable supply chain initiatives recognize the value of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework to assist growers in accessing new markets for their products and realize the vision of moving from the world’s fifth to its second largest agriculture exporter.
By aligning their businesses with 4R Nutrient Stewardship and by becoming 4R Certified, agri-retailers are also helping to quantify the advancement of sustainable agriculture in Canada. Acres advised by 4R Certified retailers are counted toward Fertilizer Canada’s goal of capturing 20 million acres under 4R Nutrient Stewardship by 2020.
For more information, or to find out how to become 4R Certified, visit www.4rcertified.ca.
