Healthy and thriving soil ecosystems can help Canada meet its global climate change commitments and economic goals for the agricultural sector. A new Metcalf-funded report from Équiterre and the Greenbelt Foundation explores how and why farmers adopt soil health practices, provides an overview of Canada’s current agri-environmental policy and programming landscape, and looks at innovative policies from other jurisdictions.

Through a systems-lens, this report reviews the benefits and opportunities of soil health practices at a time when Canadian agriculture is facing significant challenges due to climate change. The findings lay the foundation for rethinking Canada’s agricultural and climate change policies and programs in support of greater soil health.

The report includes recommendations grouped under four main themes:

• Prioritize soil health
• Enhance soil health knowledge and learning
• Incentivize soil health
• Conserve agricultural land and protected areas