Should Canada Create a National Soil Health Strategy?

Official title: Bill S-230, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement

open Legislation Agriculture & Food Environment & Climate
Senator Robert Black has introduced a bill requiring the federal government to develop a national strategy for protecting and improving soil health. The bill is now being studied by the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee. This follows a 2024 Senate report called 'Critical Ground' that highlighted why healthy soil matters for Canada's economy, environment, and food security.

Why This Matters

Healthy soil grows the food you eat. It also stores carbon, filters water, and prevents flooding. Farmers are watching their topsoil erode and nutrients deplete. This bill could shape how Canada protects this invisible but essential resource for decades to come.

What Could Change

If passed, the government would have to create a formal national soil health strategy. This could mean new programs to help farmers adopt soil-friendly practices, national standards for measuring soil health, and coordination between federal and provincial efforts. The strategy would need to address protection, conservation, and enhancement of soil across Canada.

Key Issues

  • What should a national soil health strategy include?
  • How should soil protection, conservation, and enhancement be balanced?

How to Participate

  1. Read the text of Bill S-230 to understand what's being proposed.
  2. Review the Senate's 2024 report Critical Ground for background on why soil health matters.
  3. Follow the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry for updates on hearings and opportunities to submit briefs.

Key Documents