While Canadians suffer the effects of rising food prices, politicians are only looking for scapegoats.
Is it the carbon tax? Climate change? The food giants who are lining their pockets?
All this finger-pointing is actually hiding a serious problem.
Soil—the essential earth beneath our feet—is becoming increasingly scarce, declining in quantity and quality, which will have disastrous consequences for food prices or our food supply if we do not take this problem seriously. .
This is one of the most alarming findings of a recent Senate study on the health of Canada’s soils.
As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee, which undertook this study, I have heard clear and compelling testimony that soil health is at risk.
In every region of Canada, we see soil degradation and loss of agricultural land; The area of agricultural land alone decreased by 8% between 2001 and 2021. While scientific advances in soil management and agricultural practices help maintain crop yield growth, these techniques also mask the fact that ‘a crucial resource is rapidly depleting.
In British Columbia, for example, ocean water flows further upstream into the fertile Fraser River delta, salinizing soils and making them less productive. In addition, more intense precipitation than before contributes to soil erosion. Not to mention, prolonged periods of high water reduce the time farmers can spend in their fields, leading to soil compaction, which reduces the space available for water and air.
Meanwhile, in Ontario, there is a decline in soil organic matter, which helps provide nutrients to plants. The same thing is also happening in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
And this phenomenon is not limited to Canada. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that more than 30% of the world’s soil is already degraded.
In his book The Third PlateNew York chef Dan Barber says he tasted “incredibly delicious” carrots. These carrots were found to have an exceptionally high sugar content. Analyzes revealed the presence of healthy oils, amino acids and proteins from soil rich in nutrients and micro-organisms.
He then tested a carrot from his kitchen. No sugar could be detected.
This carrot, although organic, had been grown in sandy, nutrient-poor soil, with only water and fertilizer. Growers fed the carrot, but they did not feed the soil, Mr. Barber wrote.
A top chef’s efforts to find a sweeter carrot may seem far removed from the reality experienced by Canadians struggling to feed themselves, but there is an important public health lesson to be learned here.
Barber describes a study undertaken in 1942 by pioneer soil scientist William Albrecht, who had access to Missouri military records. He found that men from areas covered in washed-out soils were more likely to be unfit and rejected for service in the military, while men from the northwest and its more mineral-rich soils were half as likely likely to be rejected.
This was a powerful correlation between healthy soils and healthy bodies.
“Societal benefits of healthy soils include cleaner water, increased biodiversity and reduced flood threats,” Duane Thompson told the committee.
“In addition, farmers benefit from increased productivity, greater resilience to climate change, reduced liability for environmental deterioration and better overall profitability. Consumers, in turn, benefit from greater food safety, reduced environmental concerns and healthier, more nutrient-dense foods.”
Summoning Galen Weston to Parliament may be grand theater, but it is not good governance.
The recommendations in our report show what should be done to ensure the stability, abundance and affordability of the food supply. The 25 recommendations include federal tax credits for farmers, ranchers and growers who have adopted, or are adopting, innovations and technologies that promote soil health. We also recommend that the Government of Canada work with provinces and territories to support the development of consensus on how to measure, report and audit soil health.
Senator Rob Black is a strong advocate for agriculture and chairs the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee. He represents Ontario in the Senate of Canada.
This article was published on November 19, 2024 in the journal Vancouver Sun (in English only).
