From introduction: The experts participating in the Consultation Workshop approved the main elements of the implementation of the NERP. The eligibility requirements of the NERP will be designed according to the criteria of the Alberta Offsets System and Canada's Offset System. The scope of the NERP is limited to on-farm reductions of emissions associated with quantification categories of fertilizer, manure, residues, and irrigation. The GHG emissions for the baseline will be determined using the country-specific methodology from Canada's National Inventory Report according to three years of farm-level activity data. The GHG emissions for the project condition also will be determined with the country-specific methodology from Canada's National Inventory Report, using the data from the farm after participation in the NERP. The essential component for participation in the NERP was defined as the implementation of a 4-R stewardship plan, as assured by (1) general guidance in the NERP confirmed by third party verification, (2) detailed design instructions in the NERP, (3) conformity with a recommended predictive model, and (4) retaining services of an approved consulting professional. The fertilizer best management practices (BMPs) comprising the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of the NERP were listed for western Canada conditions. Despite achieving consensus on the main elements of the NERP, the participants of the Consultation Workshop identified some gaps requiring further development. This Decision Paper is intended to facilitate consensus among scientific researchers and technical practitioners concerning the remaining decisions needed to complete the technical and operational framework of the NERP. To achieve this objective, the Decision Paper compiled the knowledge needed to address the gaps identified at the Consultation Workshop, and recorded the decisions of the Contract Steering Committee and other designated experts based on the compiled knowledge.
