Sustainable agriculture is about meeting our targets without harming the planet. At ATV Farms, we know that how we treat the land today will affect every generation to come.
Our sustainable farming practices let us continue delivering top-quality produce whilst caring for our land. Our growing commitment to sustainability even gives us better crop yields and healthier soil.
Benefits of Sustainable Farming Practices
The techniques we follow lead to better produce, but this is far from the only reason to embrace sustainable farming. Here are the benefits we’ve seen across over 4,000 acres of Canadian farmland.
Environmental Benefits
- Soil health: Our crop rotation and organic farming techniques boost soil fertility. This lets our produce soak in more nutrients and grow faster.
- Biodiversity: We cultivate a diverse range of plants on our farms, including cover crops. This means fewer pests and a more balanced ecosystem.
- Fewer pesticides: Chemical pesticides hurt both plants and wildlife. We prioritize organic fertilizers, keeping our food safer and our planet healthier.
Economic Benefits
- Cost savings: Sustainable agriculture is less reliant on expensive techniques. We’ll be able to make better food at even lower prices.
- More markets: Sustainability is a priority for millions of stores and businesses worldwide. Our produce is a perfect fit for these clients.
- Profitability: Our farms are more profitable when they’re sustainable. This keeps us growing and delivering great food to future generations.
Social Benefits
- Community support: Community-supported sustainable programs make our local farmers pillars of their community. It also means all of our communities have access to healthy, farm-fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Healthier food: Retailers across Canada and the US love our nutritious, chemical-free food. Our high-quality produce farming makes our food tastier and healthier.
- More jobs: Sustainable farming practices require greater expertise and dedication than conventional farming. This means more opportunities for our local farmers. We support our communities.
Key Components of Sustainable Farming
Our commitment to sustainability stands on three core pillars: soil fertility, water resources management, and natural pest control.
Our soil’s health is our number one priority. Crop rotation and cover crops help to preserve the ground’s nutrients. This helps us produce our outstanding farm-fresh year-round, without impacting the natural world.
We are dedicated to water management. Our irrigation systems provide our crops with the perfect amount of water and nutrients, and not a drop more. This prevents overwatering, keeping our crops healthy without using up any extra freshwater.
We’re also proud to say our partnership with Econse allows us to recycle 98% of our vegetable wash water. Their modular system also lets us recover extra nutrients from our own wastewater. This all takes place at our new state-of-the-art facility.
Integrated pest management also lets us defend our crops without relying on harmful chemicals. You’ll get high-quality, safe produce that lasts longer without contributing to the destruction of our planet.
Locally Grown Fresh Produce
ATV grows food on Canadian farms. This lets us support local economies. In addition, our reliable produce distribution network ensures we can get your produce to you in excellent condition as efficiently as possible.
Our farms grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables in bulk. This means the soil is as diverse as it can possibly be. The end result is a stronger local ecosystem. For example, biodiversity helps our farms resist pests and stay resilient against shifts in the climate.
Sustainable Crop Production Techniques
ATV Farms practices crop rotation. This means we switch out our crops regularly. The variety here will make our soil even healthier. It also makes it harder for pests to build colonies and nests. Cover crops similarly keep the soil healthy between harvests by preventing surface erosion from wind and rain.
We also make use of agroforestry. Growing our fruit trees next to our vegetable crops stops soil erosion and lets water easily infiltrate the ground. This adds a lot to our farms’ biodiversity. They also bear the brunt of extreme weather, keeping our crops safe from damage.
Nutrient Management in Sustainable Farming
We never waste good produce. Even the food we don’t use goes into the ground as compost for a future harvest. They’ll still be full of nutrients that make our next yield even better. We mix this with organic fertilizers for stronger results and greater crop production.
Our growing sustainability allows each crop to thrive. This includes recycling them where we can. ATV crops need plenty of vitamins and minerals to meet our standards. By avoiding artificial fertilizers, we’re also able to keep the soil at a consistent pH.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Climate change poses an enormous threat to agriculture. We embrace low-emission farming to limit greenhouse gasses. This includes ensuring we aren’t relying on artificial chemicals. For example, pesticides don’t just harm our food; they also make ground-level ozone.
We manage our resources at every stage to make sure we never use more than we need to. In addition, carbon sequestration (or carbon farming) helps the soil hold onto carbon. This stops it from flooding and damaging the atmosphere.
Water Conservation Methods
So many farms use too much water. Sustainable farming practices work to limit how much farms use each year. Here’s how ATV Farms cuts down on wasted water:
- Drip irrigation: We give water to our crops very slowly. This gives us much more control over each plant’s moisture. Our crops always get the exact amount of water they need.
- Rainwater harvesting: ATV also harvests the rain, making us less dependent on typical water sources. This also limits runoff, letting us protect our farms’ delicate ecosystems.
- Drought-resistant crops: A number of our crops can handle low-water conditions. This includes our carrots, beets, and more. We can deliver high yields without a lot of water.
- Closed-loop recycling: Our modular Econse system creates a “closed loop” of water recycling. 98% of what we use goes back into our farm. This lets us make the most of every drop.
Impact on Climate Change
Sustainable farming practices have the power to slow (or even reverse) climate change. This is why we place such a big focus on boosting soil health and limiting chemicals. Every single farm that commits to these practices can make a big difference.
To an extent, we also have to adapt to the shifting climate. For example, drought is now a bigger risk than ever for farms. Efficient water use helps guarantee there’s still enough to go around for every crop we plant.
Sustainable Food Systems
We operate on a farm to store basis. Our work doesn’t stop after we harvest our crops. We work hard to make sure it also gets to your store as efficiently as possible. Our fleets, for example, always aim to limit the distances they need to travel.
Our supply chain quickly connects stores with the wholesale vegetables and other bulk products they need. We also embrace community-supported agriculture (CSA) to help local farmers. Our goal here is to help our local produce get exactly where it needs to go.
Comparison With Conventional Farming
ATV is always working to increase its sustainable farming practices. Here’s how these techniques measure up to a more conventional approach:
| Aspect | Sustainable Farming | Conventional Farming |
| Chemical Use | Focuses on organic solutions. Reduces pollution. May require more labour. |
Uses synthetic chemicals. Lower labour costs. Can heavily damage soil. |
| Biodiversity | Ensures a strong range of crops. Boosts the ecosystem. More complex to manage. |
Only grows a few crops. Simple management. Leads to weak ecosystems. |
| Resource Use | Makes use of renewable energy. Conserves water and soil. Costly to set up (but worth it). |
Uses resources intensively. Maximizes production. Much higher carbon footprint. |
Produce Packaging and Distribution
ATV’s approach to produce packaging gives every customer an efficient solution. We scale our packaging to meet each order’s specific requirements. This means their products are sure to stay safe, even over long distances. Our packaging is also fully recyclable.
Our state-of-the-art facilities also let us customize your packages. We can even add your store’s unique branding. On top of this, we have a vast logistics network. This helps us deliver orders to other countries without any unnecessary emissions.
Challenges in Sustainable Farming
Sustainable agriculture takes a lot of work — but it’s all to keep the planet safe. For example, some sustainable farming practices (such as crop rotation) will require more labour. However, this also leads to more jobs.
The climate crisis is also, naturally, a growing concern. ATV Farms is always looking for new sustainable agriculture solutions to help this fight. Our new facility’s top-of-the-line machinery will allow us to farm more efficiently, and weather any challenge.
In many ways, sustainable farming practices are an investment in our future. One that will only pay off if we stay on top of new challenges as they emerge.
The Future of Sustainable Farming Practices
We partner with several farming, and sustainability organizations. This helps us stay on the cutting edge of both agriculture and food safety. We embrace organic solutions, but this doesn’t mean we hide away from the industry’s latest tech. We monitor emerging trends and find ways to integrate them into our usual processes.
Get Involved
We’re proud to work with supermarkets across and beyond the Americas. This is because our sustainable farming practices help us deliver the best produce possible.
To learn more about ATV Farms’ partnership opportunities, please reach out via:
Phone: (905) 830-0333
Email: info@atvfarms.com