Agricultural Pollution Prevention (AgP2) strives to sustain a growing and vibrant economy in Michigan. While continuing to effectively protect the environment and human health, future agro-environmental programs must embrace the philosophy that pollutants should be reduced through a multi-media systems approach that emphasizes P2.

AgP2 is defined as source reduction, reuse or environmentally sound recycling, and other prevention activities including nonpoint source approaches. P2 aims to eliminate and/or reduce the generation of pollutants at their source when practicable, environmentally acceptable, and economically feasible.

Guided by the Michigan Agricultural Pollution Prevention (AgP2) Strategy, the AgP2 partnership is a coordinated effort among producers, agricultural service providers, and public agencies to promote P2, Green Technologies, and Energy Efficiency.

Cooperative Partnerships
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) initiated a partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), Michigan agricultural associations and farmers to promote voluntary pollution prevention in agriculture. Key partnership goals focus on preventing agricultural pollution through increased efficiency while maintaining and improving on-farm profitability.

In 1998, both MDEQ and MDA endorsed the state's Agricultural Pollution Prevention Strategy (pdf) and Implementation Plan (pdf) which set forth pollution prevention efforts in Michigan.

The Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) was created in 2000, from a recommendation of the Michigan Agricultural Pollution Prevention Strategy. The mission of the MAEAP is to develop and promote a recognized, voluntary, proactive environmental assurance program, targeted to the agricultural industry, which ensures that producers are engaging in cost-effective pollution prevention practices and are in compliance with environmental regulations.

Demonstrations

Agricultural pollution prevention methods/processes are being demonstrated on several Michigan farms. Be sure to visit our news and events section for upcoming conferences, workshops, media articles, videos, and tours.

Information
Inventories such as the Michigan Agricultural P2 Directory have been developed to organize current pollution prevention activities/resources.