A group of soil ‘champions’ has come together to emphasize the benefits of soil health to consumers, farmers and policy makers.
“It contributes to Canadians in so many ways,” Jim Tokarchuk said.
He is the executive director of the Soil Conservation Council of Canada, one of the groups that spearheaded the new Soil Champions committee. The council announced the initiative in a July 19 news release.
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The committee hopes to elevate the topic of soil health at the national level, and not just among farmers.
Among others, members of the group include council chair Ian Boyd, former Syngenta Canada president Jay Bradshaw, farmer and conservationist Don Lobb and former Glacier FarmMedia vice-president Lynda Tityk. (Glacier FarmMedia, the Manitoba Co-operator’s parent company, is a supporter of the committee).
The goal is to “take the soil health message beyond the farm and to the broader agriculture industry, food processors, consumers and government,” the news release said.
Tokarchuk said most of the urban population in Canada may not understand soil’s role in improving water and air quality, as well as biodiversity and wildlife habitats. Those same people may have the wrong idea about the impact agriculture could have on climate change.
“What a marvelous gift and precious resource Canadian soil is,” he said.
And while farmers have a much closer relationship with soil, said Tokarchuk, they can’t afford to forget about it either.
“It’s like looking after your own health. We’re never going to be done this.”
Tokarchuk said he’s seen a slight increase in the amount of tillage. Council staff at the recent Ag in Motion show in Saskatchewan noted a wealth of tillage equipment on display.
Crop rotations have changed since the 1980s, which brings new stressors that require adaptation. So has a variable and changing climate, Tokarchuk said. The world’s population has grown and it can be a challenge to feed the population while working toward soil health.
“Pulling together, doing all the right things … is just fantastically important,” he said.
The committee plans to use this fall and winter to plan initiatives and tools to promote its message.
Tokarchuk thanked the family of Ontario farmer Ruth Butt, who provided a significant financial donation to form the committee.
