The objective of the second phase of the Tri-National Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality was to examine actions that can be taken to reduce impacts of agriculture on water quality. Three synthesis papers were developed which examine how different farm management practices can prevent the degradation of water quality and how these different approaches are used to encourage farmer utilization of practices that protect water quality, and hence the environment. Examples from Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. are used to illustrate the effectiveness of incentives and practices in different climates and different sized agricultural systems.
Tri-National Initiative on Water Quality and Agriculture, Current Technologies: Shared Experiences
English (PDF - 7.7 mb) - Español (PDF - 3.7 mb)
Case studies of successful agricultural adaptations from Mexico, Canada and the U.S. are examined to identify the common elements that make watershed protection projects successful. The cases focus on practices that help protect water quality.
Addressing Agricultural Water Resources Issues in North America: The Role of Research and Education
English (PDF - 3.2 mb) - Español (PDF - 656 kb)
This review examines the current state of knowledge of the benefits of different farm management practices in North America on water quality and examines the shortcomings within the knowledge base at different space scales. The review addresses the need for education and the impediments to the application of knowledge gained through research.
The North American Experience with Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Water Policies
English (PDF - 1.3 mb) - Español (PDF - 1.5 mb)
This review identifies different policy instruments (ranging from education to regulation) available to policy-makers in North America and reviews which policies could be used more effectively to ensure sustainable use of water resources for protection of the environment.
The workshop's main objective was to generate new ideas and find workable solutions and processes in trilateral governmental collaboration to promote the protection of water quality through agri-environmental and sustainable agriculture practices. Workshop participants shared knowledge on agriculture-related water quality issues and responses in their countries; agreed to establish a basis for, and a commitment to, the promotion of trilateral cooperation on water quality issues; and made specific recommendations for future work.
For more information, please see the detailed report.
English (PDF - 220 kb) - Español (PDF - 156 kb)