4R Nutrient Stewardship means using the right source of fertilizer, applied at the right rate, at the right time, and at the right place.

Right now in Canada there's about two million acres that are using 4R Nutrient Stewardship.

Fertilizer Canada has a goal of increasing that number to 20 million by the year 2020.

CEO and President Garth Whyte explained the benefits.

"4-R Nutrient Stewardship reduces greenhouse gases so producers can reduce nitrous oxide crop emissions, which are 300 times worse than carbon emissions and at the same time increase their profitability by up to $87 an acre," he said.

At its annual meeting held last month in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture passed a resolution in support of 4R Nutrient Stewardship.