Healthy soil is the foundation of Canada’s agriculture industry — but its impact goes beyond basic food production. Soil health impacts our ability to access food, the quality of the food, water and air we consume and our diet and nutrition.

In all these ways, soil health is human health.

But this life-giving material, and the agricultural sector at large, continues to be threatened by many challenges, despite scientific and technological advancements in recent decades. Some of these challenges, like soil erosion, aren’t new, while others — like supply chain issues, severe weather events and the effects of climate change — are evolving and more unpredictable.

As a pediatrician interested in the social determinants of health and the effects of food insecurity, and as one of the newest members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, these issues concern me deeply.

The agriculture committee is engaged in a long-term study on soil health in Canada. Building upon the committee’s first study on the subject in the 1980s, senators are investigating the current state of soil across the country, the challenges of today and solutions to ensure sustainable agricultural growth and healthy soil over the long term.

A component of that is considering innovations in technology and farming techniques — and how to get farmers to embrace these practices. Agricultural land is a limited resource in Canada; only about 7% of the country’s landmass is suitable for agriculture. It’s therefore of paramount importance that we preserve the healthy soil we have in ways that are science-based and proven to work.

According to a 2016 report published by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), soil quality and conditions across the country improved between 1981 and 2011 as a result of improved land management practices and more sustainable agricultural practices.

These practices include growing techniques that minimally disturb the soil, such as “no-till” farming and direct seeding; the use of permanent soil covers (or “cover crops”); and the installation and maintenance of “shelterbelts,” a barrier of trees or other vegetation that helps reduce soil erosion from wind.

There is increased focus on the adoption of regenerative agriculture techniques, often referred to as beneficial management practices (BMPs). AAFC describes these as farming practices based in science that minimize or prevent environmental risks, “while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the land and economic viability of the producer.”

While we know now what works best, it’s not enough — and the government knows this. AAFC’s Strategic Plan for Science admits: “Currently, there is no clear net-zero pathway for agriculture that does not compromise food production for Canada … as well as the long-term viability of Canada’s agriculture sector.

“Significant research mobilization will be needed to fully engage AAFC’s extensive science capacity … in order to discover new practices and technologies,” the plan reads.

However, the knowledge and lessons learned acquired over the last four decades — and our future innovations — will be for nothing if we can’t empower and support the people who can put them into practice.

The Senate agriculture committee has heard that knowledge transfer to farmers who need this information remains challenging. The development of the Living Laboratories Initiative by the federal agriculture department is promising, but it needs to be rapidly and equitably expanded.

We should also look to and learn from Indigenous scientists and keepers of knowledge. Sustainability and the stewardship of Mother Earth are at the core of Indigenous farming practices and cultural beliefs.

Providing financial incentives to farmers is another key piece of the puzzle. The committee has heard from young, medium-sized and Indigenous farmers who were unable to access funding and resources dedicated to the adoption of BMPs, which is often a costly investment. We must ensure these practices make better economic sense than their less sustainable counterparts, and that the programs that promote them remain agile and deliver adequate support.

There is much work left to do, but there is no doubt: investing in agricultural innovation and adopting proven, sustainable farming practices is crucial not only to ensuring a thriving agriculture industry, but to the long-term health of our soil and ourselves.

Senator Sharon Burey represents Ontario in the Senate. She is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

This article was published in The Hill Times on March 20, 2023.