Canadian Alliance for Net Zero Agri-Food (CANZA)

Canada’s agri-food sector is increasingly being recognized as a strategic driver of economic growth, resilience, and global competitiveness. Today’s announcement of the Canada Strong Fund by Mark Carney highlights the importance of investing in sectors — including agriculture — that will shape Canada’s long-term prosperity. At CANZA, we’re seeing firsthand how private capital can be mobilized to support climate-smart agriculture while strengthening productivity, food security, and rural economies. Through initiatives like the Million Acre Challenge, and the development of a national environmental outcomes marketplace, partners across the value chain are coming together to build practical, scalable solutions. This kind of coordinated public and private sector leadership will be essential to unlocking the full potential of Canada’s agri-food system — and to ensuring we remain globally competitive in a rapidly changing world. We’re encouraged to see agriculture included as part of Canada’s broader economic transformation, and we look forward to continuing to advance this work alongside partners across the sector.

Our Senior Advisor Barbara Swartzentruber had a great time at the SPARK V5 Symposium this week with the carbon capture panel. Panel members agreed about the need for a common, reliable and low-cost measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification (MMRV) process. A robust MMRV system will help carbon markets scale and create meaningful revenue for farmers. Thanks to all the attendees and the Grand River Agricultural Society for hosting the event!

This Earth Day, we recognize the farmers turning commitment into action. To Cohort 1 of the Million-Acre Challenge and the incredible partners supporting CANZA, thank you for helping advance climate-smart agriculture across the agri-food system. Every day is Earth Day on the farm, and every action shapes a more sustainable future. #CANZA #ClimateSmartAgriculture #CanadianAgriculture #SoilHealth

Measuring soil carbon can be slow, costly, and hard to scale. That’s a problem, because better data is key to advancing climate-smart agriculture in Canada. A CANZA-backed project is working to change that. By combining soil moisture sensing, digital imaging, and spectroscopy into a single device, this new tool aims to make soil carbon measurement faster, simpler, and more accessible in the field. Learn how this innovation is taking shape: https://lnkd.in/ewk8qawW #CANZA #ClimateSmartAgriculture #CanadianAgriculture #SoilHealth #MMRV

👀 Coming soon to a farm near you! 👀 Keep your eyes out for our CANZA Flagship Farm signs! You may see them pop up at our participating farms across Ontario’s Corn Belt in Cohort 1 of the Million Acre Challenge. You can learn more about the Challenge at https://lnkd.in/eXepfx_Z.

Important perspective from Evan Fraserand the team at Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, whose work continues to advance thinking on resilient, climate-smart food systems in Canada. Delivering on this ambition will require strong alignment between research, innovation, and real-world implementation across the agri-food value chain. CANZA is convening partners across the system—including Arrell—bringing together farmers, industry, research, and investment to help translate these ideas into coordinated, scalable solutions.

Jonathan Zettler is part of a group of Certified Crop Advisors helping improve CANZA’s Million Acre Challenge Program. The program offers farmers cost-sharing and agronomic support through CCAs to adopt practical, proven practices that improve soil health, protect water quality, and reduce emissions. Farmers who participate may also be able to explore future opportunities to market the environmental outcomes they generate, such as lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved water quality, and increased biodiversity. “The process seems fairly easy, as an agronomist or an advisor, to help farmers access funding to make improvements on their farm,” said Zettler. Read the article to hear out about our work with CCAs and the Million Acre Challenge. https://lnkd.in/g-Pstpfg #CANZA #ImpactReport #ClimateSmartAgriculture #CanadianAgriculture #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAg

"Genuine partnership is foundational to shared success, and agrifood supports should benefit the entire community."

We’re sharing a leadership update from the Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food (CANZA). After two impactful years, Nick Betts has stepped down as Executive Director to pursue a new professional opportunity. We are grateful for his leadership in helping grow CANZA and strengthening collaboration across Canada’s agri-food sector. As CANZA continues to build momentum, Ashley Honsberger is serving as Interim Executive Director, supported by the CANZA leadership team and Generate Canada. The work underway with partners, farmers, and collaborators across the country continues, with a focus on advancing climate-smart agriculture and scaling solutions together. This next phase reflects CANZA’s continued commitment to collaboration, innovation, and delivering meaningful impact across the agri-food system. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e-ScTG9j

✨ We're looking for a temporary part-time Executive Assistant. Learn more about the role here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gfA_nMdF