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Fredericton, New Brunswick. (June 4, 2026) – The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is pleased to participate in a global initiative that marked the first ever World Alfalfa Day on May 23, 2026, and that will advance awareness of alfalfa year‑round.
The initiative to name May 23 World Alfalfa Day was driven by SomosAlfalfa/TodoAlfalfa, a specialized Argentine media and information platform dedicated entirely to the alfalfa sector, and backed by a growing network of agro‑industrial, academic and producer‑focused institutions. Read more about the initiative here.
The choice of May 23 as the central date for World Alfalfa Day is based on the birth of Carl Linnaeus in 1707, the towering figure of botany and creator of binomial nomenclature, which provided a universal scientific language. It was Linnaeus who formally classified alfalfa as Medicago sativa in his foundational 1753 work, Species Plantarum.
For the CFGA, the effort aligns closely with its ongoing work to advance climate‑smart forage systems, strengthen producer knowledge and promote the environmental benefits of well‑managed perennial crops. Alfalfa contributes significantly to soil health, biodiversity, nitrogen fixation, water regulation and resilient livestock production – values shared across Canada’s forage and grassland sector.
A dedicated World Alfalfa Day creates new opportunities for outreach, technical exchange and public awareness. It also helps unify global conversations about sustainable forage production at a time when resilient, low‑carbon agricultural systems are more important than ever.
For the first World Alfalfa Day, CFGA executive director Cedric MacLeod participated in an international forum about forage, by-products and emerging opportunities to answer the question “Which markets are the leading forage producers targeting?” The online forum was part of the May 23 launch of the Sustainable Alfalfa Diploma, a university‑level professional training program created jointly by the National University of Villa María (UNVM) and TodoAlfalfa/SomosAlfalfa. It is currently the most advanced formal training program in Argentina focused specifically on sustainable alfalfa production.
As momentum builds internationally, the CFGA is pleased to support this collaborative effort and contribute Canada’s voice to a growing global community recognizing the vital role of alfalfa in productive and environmentally responsible agriculture.
Any organization interested in joining the initiaive can learn more here.
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