Odette Ménard, with over 35 years of experience in soil science and research, led a video conference discussion on soil health and practices on Wednesday, May 28. The session was hosted in partnership with the Québec Farmers’ Association (QFA) and discussed topics including the role of earthworms, the importance of root systems, and strategies for improving soil health in agriculture.
Ménard has been an agriculturalist with the Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPAQ) since 1988 and became a member of the Soil and Water Conservation Hall of Fame of Canada in 2005. She received the Medal of the Order of Agricultural Merit of Québec and was selected as a Nuffield scholar in 2022.
Ménard opened the discussion by posing a question to the group: “Why was the plow invented?” After some brief responses, Ménard concluded that plows were originally intended to stimulate the soil, control weeds, and improve surface drainage for a larger yield.
Throughout the session, Ménard emphasized that improving soil health is not about quick fixes, but rather about observation, adaptation, and respect for the ecosystem beneath the surface. She challenged long-held practices about tilling, soil biology, and machinery use, requesting farmers to rethink their relationship with the soil
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