The strategy will improve collaboration, data sharing, and informed soil management across Canada
The federal government will work with a national organization to support soil health across the country.
On March 26 Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced his department will collaborate with the Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) to advance the National Agricultural Soil Health Strategy “to protect this essential resource.”
This strategy “is a pivotal initiative aimed at advancing soil health, fostering sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring environmental resilience for Canada’s future,” the SCCC’s website says.
The idea of a national soil heath strategy emerged from Senate work.
In June 2024 the Senate agriculture committee published a report outlining the importance of soil health for Canada.
The report, titled Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health, discovered that progress in modern agriculture in terms of crop yield and plant genetics helped hide underlying issues facing Canadian soil.
“This is the result of climate change and more frequent extreme weather events, urbanization, and misread outcomes of soil management practices,” the report’s summary says. “We do not have another 40 years to protect and conserve soil. We must act now.”
After the tabling of the report, Senator Rob Black of Ontario introduced Bill S-230 in June 2025 to legislate the creation of the national soil health strategy.
The bill calls for the federal ministers of agriculture, environment, health, and ministers from other related portfolios to work with provincial and territorial governments, and other stakeholder groups, to develop the strategy together.
This includes education programs, data collection, policy updates, and appointing a national soil advocate to raise awareness.
As of March 24, 2026 the bill passed the report stage in the Senate and is heading for its third and final reading in that chamber.
“Healthy soils are the foundation of a resilient agri-food system, and this collaborative approach will help protect and enhance this vital resource,” Senator Black said in a statement. “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.”