FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 06, 2022
The PEI Certified Organic Producers Co-operative (PEI COPC) is encouraged by the announcement late last week from the Government of PEI, outlining their agricultural irrigation strategy. The strategy reflects a sincere desire to protect our ground and surface water resources and to ensure responsible water use. There is provision for transparent monitoring of water use and water users, potential for broad stakeholder engagement, equitable access, watershed-based planning and an acknowledgement of the important role of soil health in water conservation.
In advocating for this strategy to be developed, the PEI COPC created a strategic framework focused on resilience and industry leadership supported by clear and enforceable regulations as well as novel and ongoing research. While we are pleased to see much of what we envisioned for a comprehensive plan in the Provincial Irrigation Strategy, it is concerning that it fails to explicitly address the active role agricultural irrigators need to take to address deforestation, declining soil-Carbon stocks, and nutrient losses to soil, water, and air; all of which require marked industry commitments extending beyond nutrient, soil health, and land use planning regimes observed to date. The PEI COPC questions the calculus of granting water access where recent land use changes have resulted in sizable and measurable Carbon emissions while at the same time increasing water demand in limited supply watersheds.
The agriculture industry has a responsibility to all Islanders to continue to work collectively with multiple stakeholders and our Government partners to ensure this strategy responds to the unique characteristics of our Island’s landscape and water resources. We welcome the opportunity to take what we have learned, using the foundational strategy we have developed, to work together toward the continuous improvement and implementation of the Provincial Irrigation Strategy.
We must work together to protect our water and support our farmers.
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About the PEI Certified Organic Producers Co-operative:
The PEI Certified Organic Producers Cooperative is an industry organization currently representing fifty certified organic producers, approximately 12,000 acres of certified organic production and more than $20M in farm cash receipts.
Media contact:
Karen Murchison
Research Coordinator, PEI Certified Organic Producers Co-operative
(902) 394-3142
research [at] organicpei [dot] com
