Canada is moving ahead with a national plan to improve and protect the health of its farmland soils.
Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced Thursday that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will work with the Soil Conservation Council of Canada to develop a national agricultural soil health strategy. A federal release said the plan will help support farm productivity, strengthen sustainability and improve the long-term resilience of Canada’s agricultural land.
The strategy will be shaped through consultations starting this spring with provinces, territories, Indigenous agricultural groups, producer organizations, academics and industry representatives. Ottawa said that approach is intended to make sure the final strategy reflects regional differences across the country as well as the long-term needs of the farm sector.
The department will also work with the Soil Conservation Council of Canada to set up committees and advisory working groups to guide the project. Those groups are expected to provide expert advice in areas such as research, extension, data collection, and incentives for better soil management.
MacDonald said healthy soils are essential to a strong and sustainable agriculture sector and called soil a key national asset that supports farmers’ livelihoods, food security and environmental outcomes.
The move builds on work already done by the Senate and by industry groups. A Senate agriculture committee report released in June 2024, with significant contributions from Ontario Senator Rob Black, highlighted the importance of soil to Canada’s economic, environmental and social well-being. That work helped lead to Bill S-230, which calls for the development of a national strategy to protect, conserve, and enhance soil health.
“Healthy soils are the foundation of a resilient agri-food system, and this collaborative approach will help protect and enhance this vital resource. I’m proud to see the momentum from our Senate study and Bill S-230 reflected in this work, and I look forward to the benefits for producers and future generations," Black said.
